What is White Noise about? Like “the most photographed barn in America,” the tourist attraction down the road from Blacksmith, the college-town setting of Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel, the book is famous for being famous. Sure, it’s about, among other things, consumerism, ambient dread, the family in the age of consumerism and ambient dread. But […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/12/21/white-noise-delillo-studies/

As the year’s end approaches I’m at Manhattan’s 28th Street flower market, where branches of shiny persimmons, toe-sized kumquats, and burnished pomegranates are arrayed in cardboard boxes. Bunches of purple viburnum and privet berries, white tallow berries, leafy eucalyptus, holly, and mistletoe are bound in elastic bands and crammed beside blood-red peonies, imported papery poppies, […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/12/21/at-the-flower-market-leanne-shapton/

Narrated by Stina Nielsen, A Light in the Flame is the second audiobook in the Flesh and Fire romantic fantasy series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Almost twenty-eight hours of suspense, romance and discovery left me breathless and eager for more.

A Light in the Flame
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Flesh and Fire #2
Narrator: Stina Nielsen
Length: 26 hours and 27 minutes
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Heat Level:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book two in her Flesh and Fire series…

The only one who can save Sera now is the one she spent her life planning to kill.

The truth about Sera’s plan is out, shattering the fragile trust forged between her and Nyktos. Surrounded by those distrustful of her, all Sera has is her duty. She will do anything to end Kolis, the false King of Gods, and his tyrannical rule of Iliseeum, thus stopping the threat he poses to the mortal realm.

Nyktos has a plan, though, and as they work together, the last thing they need is the undeniable, scorching passion that continues to ignite between them. Sera cannot afford to fall for the tortured Primal, not when a life no longer bound to a destiny she never wanted is more attainable than ever. But memories of their shared pleasure and unrivaled desire are a siren’s call impossible to resist.

And as Sera begins to realize that she wants to be more than a Consort in name only, the danger surrounding them intensifies. The attacks on the Shadowlands are increasing, and when Kolis summons them to Court, a whole new risk becomes apparent. The Primal power of Life is growing inside her, pushing her closer to the end of her Culling. And without Nyktos’s love—an emotion he’s incapable of feeling—she won’t survive her Ascension. That is if she even makes it to her Ascension and Kolis doesn’t get to her first. Because time is running out. For both her and the realms.

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Warning: This series must be read in the order of its release.

I have been enjoying Armentrout’s romantic fantasies featuring gods and this “enemies to lovers”, delivers a sweeping romance. Fair warning, this ends on a major cliffhanger, but it was worth the pain.

Sera and Nyktos’ story will tug at your heartstrings as reveals are made and the stakes run high. The story picks up where A Shadow in the Ember ends. Despite a year and close to two hundred books later, the details came rushing back and Armentrout did a lovely job of refreshing our memories.

The world-building is wonderful from the world of the gods to the complexities of their personalities, courts and more. I loved the banter between Nyktos and Sera. Sera is passionate and quick to temper. I for one, couldn’t blame her. Nyktos’ backstory ripped at my heart. So much sacrifice.

The prophecies, danger, and twists kept me listening into the wee hours. The author continued to flesh out the world and prepare us for the last book, A Fire in the Flesh, set to release in 2023. When almost thirty hours of audio is over in the blink of an eye, you know it has hooked you.

The romance is heated, frustrating, swoony and slow building. You’ll root for them, want to pick up arms and battle by their side. Occasionally, you’ll also want to bop them in the back of the head.

The danger and battles are intense and wonderfully written, but the romance and problem regarding the embers are center stage. The ending brings answers while leaving us on the cliff that has me longing for the final audiobook.

Stina Nielsen is wonderful as the narrator of this series. She brings the characters to life, capturing their emotions and enhancing the overall tale. I began listening at 1x and drifted up to a more comfortable speed of 1.5x.

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A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L. Armentrout brings us passion, suspense, answers and a race against the clock. #Fantasy #audiobook #AudiobookReview #FleshAndFire #StinaNielsen
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/12/a-light-in-the-flame-by-jennifer-l-armentrout.html

This gripping story follows Nathan, a hard-working young man in San Francisco with a dream to become an entrepreneur. He and his friends need $10,000 to enter a competition in order to win a startup opportunity. Nathan’s grandmother, a neuroscientist, presents the young entrepreneurs with the chance to fund their goal by participating in a VR simulation called Just City. This experience snowballs into self-discovery and reflection – contemplating earned success, privilege, and values. Nathen looks for identity reflected through various relationships. Ultimately, he arrives at a place of contentment, knowing that he is being true to himself through love and reason.

Olga Tymofiyeva creates a compelling narrative in Just City, where the main character must walk between two worlds. The ideas explored are complex and meaningful to the character’s growth. The concept of privilege and empathy are timely to society without being devoid of hope.

Nathan begins with a view that lacks humanity but ends with a balanced position capturing the inherent worth of those around him. Nathan’s grandmother acts as a loving sounding board during his paradigm shift, honestly guiding him while respecting his personal exploration. A relatable aspect of this book is the evolution that Nathan’s relationships undergo as he searches to define his worldview.

The narrative feels blocky at first glance but feels more appropriate as you get to know Nathan and his internal dialogue. Nathan approaches everything analytically, and it is reflected in how his thoughts are organized. Nathan is self-centered at first, which might feel slightly off-putting. However, his growth journey is relatable to many who have encountered challenging information. Especially if the world’s cruelty has quieted the child-like compassion in all of us.

Just City is a compelling coming-of-age young adult novel about self-discovery. The journey the protagonist embarks on is relatable to teens, and virtual reality makes the message more relevant in this age of technology. This thought-provoking novel is perfect for young adults and teenagers who may question how the world is changing and what they can do to improve things.

Pages: 147 | ASIN : B0BLJ3X1QZ

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/21/just-city/

In a magical neighborhood, a friendly pumpkin comes to life. She can not wait to go and explore the neighborhood and see all the wonderful sites around her. Unfortunately, not all magical pumpkins are nice, some are scary and mean, and a group of them quickly sound her and scare her. Just when she thinks it is about to end, a group of teenagers arrives, but they are not the good samaritans the little pumpkin had hoped for. They start smashing pumpkins left and right. The friendly little pumpkin knew she was a goner until a small girl showed up and stopped the teenagers from smashing her. Gently the little girl picks up the friendly pumpkin and takes her away from danger.

Halloweenie is a captivating picture book by Amanda McCann and illustrated by Simone Fohl. This heartwarming children’s book teaches children about standing up for people, and that friend can come in any form. The friendly pumpkin learns that not all humans are evil and out to harm her, and the little girl shows kids that even when you are small, you can still stand up for others and do the right thing.

The illustrations in this picture book are awe-inspiring. The story alone is magical and wonderful, but the images bring it all to life. The details on each page are eye-catching and will keep children actively engaged in the story. Each page in the book enhances the story without being too scary.

Halloweenie is a spellbinding picture book about friendship and fears. Children will learn about being a good friend, doing what’s right, and being okay when you are afraid of something. This is a captivating storybook to have at home or in a classroom to introduce the fall holiday season.

Pages: 42 | ISBN : 1667863320

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/21/halloweenie/

A medieval fantasy story full of magic, royalty, knights, and elves, The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker is sure to entertain lovers of fairytales and fantasy alike. The story begins with a young princess, Issylte, who is next in line for the throne. Trouble comes when her father chooses to marry an evil woman who treats Issylte cruelly. After the queen arranges to kill the young princess, the two huntsmen refuse and send her into the forest on her own. There, she meets a fairy witch who takes her in. As she learns about magic, she learns of her true mate, Tristian, a Knight of the Roundtable with a dark past and a love of being a warrior. Together they must save her kingdom from her evil stepmother.

The story was interesting and engaging. The characters’ relationships were well developed, and the aspects of magic were fascinating, as they included herbal remedies and other nonconventional kinds of magic. There are mature themes within the story, and it combines several different threads of fairytales and fantasy tropes.

The development of the main character Issylte was well done, as we see her go from scared and lost to strong and independent as the story progresses. The same is said of the other protagonist, Tristian. He gains more and more knowledge and friends as the story moves along. I feel the author tried too hard with the style of dialogue, it wasn’t exactly right for the period. I felt that tropes seemed overused at times, such as the mate bond between the two protagonists and elves in a medieval fairytale setting feeling off.

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a riveting mix of fantasy, fairytale, and historical romance. Readers will find threads of old-time favorites with a unique twist and perspective. With magic, knights, and a wicked queen there is something for all readers who want mature content and a fascinating adventure.

Pages: 377| ASIN : B0B8XNMYBS

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/21/the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-raven/

Myra is a little grumpy, and because of that none of the other puppies want to play with her. On her way back home, she runs into Old Dimple. He wants to help her be happy and have lots of friends so he gives her a challenge: for thirty days Myra needs to look around her and find something to be grateful for. Can Myra complete the challenge? Find out in Myra the Grumpy Puppy and Wise Old Dimple.

This is an inspirational children’s book that will give young readers the tools they need to see the positive side of things. There is one page for each day of the challenge. On each day readers are treated to a bit of Myra’s story, they need to circle the day of the week, and they’re prompted to think of something they’re grateful for. This provides several different opportunities to learn. Children will learn the days of the week by repeatedly finding and circling the day of the week. And I love the prompt before the section where they can write in what the reader is grateful. This is because I find that many children struggle with thinking of something to be grateful for. The prompts help place them in the right state of mind. Examples include, “Think about your room. What do you like about it?” and “Think about your family. What do you like best about them?”.

In this vibrant children’s book kids will find that they appreciate many things in their life, just like Myra. By the end they’ll see that they have plenty of positive things in their life and that will inspire them to be happy. Myra the Grumpy Puppy and Wise Old Dimple is a wonderful resource for parents and teachers who want to educate their kids on what it means to be appreciative and to see the good things in their life.

Pages: 35 | ASIN: B0B9DRCSJL

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/21/myra-the-grumpy-puppy-and-wise-old-dimple/

Kaylin McFarren, indeed, has one of the most vivid imaginations of any author I have ever read. Requiem For A Queen is filled with dark imagery, layered plot twists, and many multi-faceted characters that keep the reader’s mind engaged and turn pages as fast as you can. In addition, this colorful story of the war between Heaven and Hell is laced with themes of friendship, love, birthright, and the devotion between mother and son.

We are introduced to the main character, Samara, as she has escaped from Hell and gives birth to her son, the secret son of Lucifer – ruler of Hell. She is all alone in a cave in the woods as demon soldiers search for her while giving birth. With the help of a shapeshifter, sprite, and soldier, she is on a quest to keep her son, Papillon, out of harm’s way from Lucinda. His sister, the heir to the throne of Hell, wishes to remain the heir and is threatened by the birth of her brother. Samara’s only wish is to protect Papillon, who has unique powers, and give him a happy life. However, after Lucinda steals Papillon and hides him away, Samara is forced to confront Lucifer and confess that he is the father, her only chance to save her son from the sister who wants him dead. 

I found Requiem for a Queen to be an enjoyable yet challenging read. The abundance of characters and intricate plot keep the reader engaged but also challenge them to remember the picture and retain all that has occurred in the story. From demons, witches, Cambion soldiers, shapeshifters, archangels, and the devil, there are many types of characters to try to comprehend the complex relationships between them all. Readers who enjoy mind-bending fantasy with the flair of good versus evil will devour this book and beg for more!

Pages: 341 | ASIN: B0BBJTR8BD

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/21/requiem-for-a-queen-2/