All Things Halloween Review of The Death King

The Death King (Death, # 1)

By: Penelope Barsetti

Publication: August 29, 2024 by Hartwick Publishing

341 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Abuse

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--I was fifteen when the Death King came for us.

With a mighty black dragon and the ability to command the dead, he raised an army of our fallen soldiers to fight for him—and conquered us in the night. My father, King Laurier of Scorpion Valley, couldn’t stop him. I tried to flee but came face to face with the man in black armor, the man who looked more like a god than a human. Instead of killing me, he chose to show me mercy…but it didn’t feel like mercy.

Not when the next ten years of my life are spent as a slave in the Arid Sands, digging for Black Diamonds from sunrise to sunset. I'm also the personal slave of General Titan—a man who has grown obsessed with me. The work under the hot sun is unbearable—but I prefer it to his company any day. I’ve never tried to escape because there’s nowhere to run in the desert, but all of that changes when I hear the news—that the Death King is coming.

I sneak out in the middle of the night to steal his dragon, but that backfires in my face—because you can’t steal a dragon. Khazmuda is no mindless beast. He can speak directly into my mind and hear my thoughts in return. The Death King is about to kill me, but Khazmuda changes his mind—because I have the gift.

The ability to speak with dragons.

The Death King spares my life once again and takes me back to his castle. He has no idea who I am, has no idea what he did to my family ten years ago. He asks me to fight for his cause—but he won’t tell me exactly what that cause is. And then he tells me he wants more from me…desires me more than any other because, like him, I have the gift.

I can’t deny he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, with eyes black like midnight, a jawline as sharp as his dragon’s talons, the height of a mountain, and shoulders as broad as a stream. But no amount of attraction will ever change the fact that he destroyed my life. The answer is no—and it’ll always be no.

But the Death King doesn’t accept that answer.

Trigger Contains dark themes including rape and suicide.

I got this one on audio after seeing an overall 4.4 rating on Goodreads. Before I talk story let me briefly discuss the audio aspects. This book has dual narration. Ramona Master reads for Calista, and Michael Ferraiuolo reads for Talon. (*Note, I'm not entirely sure about spellings since I don't have a physical copy of this book to double check.) I liked Ramona Master better than Michael Ferraiuolo. Although the panic and fear were audible in Ramona Master's narration of Calista's emotions (as well as her other emotions), sometimes I felt her performance was a bit too exaggerated in places for me. Michael Ferraiuolo was a little bit of a struggle. I liked his voice for Khazmuda better than her regular voice for Talon. Sorry, the voice didn't seem to fit the character to me. 

Now let me say that I have no idea how The Death King has such a high overall rating on Goodreads. Who are you people rating this mess as 5 Stars? First, the most obvious pet peeve of mine is language. There's no need for every 3rd word to be the f-word. But I guess when the characters are on each other like rabbits throughout the book one page of sexual content turns right to the next page, language like that is somewhat expected. I mean it was constant. I began to wonder what happened to the actual story there for a bit. And the descriptive terms used made me cringe. Perhaps that isn't too surprising. I have a lower tolerance for this than probably most people but yeesh. And this is made worse by the fact that Calista spent 7 years being raped daily before being freed from General Titan's captivity. Yet the man who destroyed her life and basically turned her into his own whore is supposed to erase all the trauma she's endured? When she finally has the power to say yes or no she's going to give it up so freely and be treated no better because he claims he's not going to hurt her during sex even though his restraint is not because he wants to restrain himself. I mean how are we supporting this, people? How is this 5 Stars?

And then Khazmuda basically vouches for Talon with Calista. "There's more to him than you understand. He is so hurt he isn't the same person he used to be. His story is so painful it can't be recounted without being relived." Yet come to find out, his story is exactly the same as Calista's except there's a different villain featured in his. I was thankful that this was at least brought up and not completely ignored. Yet it doesn't change anything. 

I was so intrigued by the description. The Death King kills Calista's family,  and she's sent to servitude until it's discovered that she can talk to dragons which is an ability much needed. The Death King would then need to get Calista to come to his side. Surely there would be some reason for his actions that can't be seen. It is possible. Rhys turned out to be the good guy after all. And bonding with dragons turned out awesome in Fourth Wing . But no. Not much happened in the entire plot that can't be summed up by this short paragraph. Well except that Titan is missing and it should be assumed he's going to hook up with the shamans to get a dragon for himself to steal Calista back from Talon. 

Despite being intrigued by the minuscule plot, I will not be returning to this series. Any possible redemption for any of the characters isn't worth trudging through this much language, sexual content, and terrible decisions. The Death King gets 2 Stars... *the miniscule plot saving it from an entire DNF. Have you read (or listened to) The Death King ? What did you think? Let me know!

P.S. Where in the world did the necromancy pieces fit in? So weird. 

*Let it be known that I skipped ahead during certain scenes...multiple times. It was just way too much.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween/Homeschool Friday - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

By: Roald Dahl

Expected Publication: January 17, 1964

196 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Humor

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--'The ultimate children's story' - David Walliams

Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Gold Ticket from Mr Willy Wonka! I shake you warmly by the hand! Tremendous things are in store for you!

One miraculous moment changes Charlie Bucket's life forever.

A boy who only gets to eat cabbage soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner finds a Golden Ticket that will take him into Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory.

Joining him on the tour are four horrible

Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop, Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat, Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer and Mike Teavee - a TV addict.

With a chocolate river, crafty squirrels and mysterious Oompa Loompas, Mr Wonka's chocolate factory is the strangest, most magnificent place Charlie has ever seen.

What other surprises are in store for the lucky ticket winners?

Now you can listen to CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!

I'm not looking to add to what's been said about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by many smarter and more in-depth reviewers already. I only want to review our experience of the book. We got into a habit of listening to an audiobook in the car when driving around places. For one, I wanted to give the kids something to "do" when they weren't allowed to use their tablets in the car. Also, I wanted to get to a few more books as a family than we were doing. And since working these into our homeschool hasn't been too successful yet (we're only in our first year), I thought audiobooks in the car might help us get around to a few more books. And so we chose to listen to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on our way home from a field trip where we had an hour and a half drive. 

The audiobook version of this was well done. Douglas Hodge did a wonderful job narrating.

The two movies that have been made based upon this book have both done a wonderful job and between the two of them, I could picture what was happening based upon each movie. I think I pictured Johnny Depp's version of Willy Wonka the most, as well as Freddie Highmore as Charlie. But I had flashes of both movies during the book. The kids all enjoyed listening, and I think it also helped that they could picture the movies as well. And of course, they wanted to watch both versions after we finished.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is probably my favorite of Roal Dahl's book (that I've read so far out of four). It's just weird enough to be a fun fantasy for me without being too weird and too realistic. See, I don't like when books are supposed to be realistic but there's a bit of magic. And books like James and the Giant Peach are a little out there (too fantastical) for my preferences. 

Of course, there are many important moral lessons that we can learn from the children and parents included in the story. I won't expound upon those just now, but I always love when fiction has a nice moral and lesson to be learned. It isn't always as easy as eating chocolate to apply those lessons to our own lives, but I am a firm believer that little bit by little bit, these types of stories influence our character and our worldview. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Iron Flame

Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Publication: November 7, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

640 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Iron Flame was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. I didn't know I was anticipating it until the fall when I read Fourth Wing, but I would have picked it up immediately upon finishing Fourth Wing if it had been released. I did purchase it on the release date which is rare for me to do these days. *And I've been holding this review for about a year waiting for my "All Things Halloween" event to publish it.

Violet and Xaden start off in a bit of a rough place where Fourth Wing ends and Iron Flame begins. They'd just survived the attack at Resson and Violet was dangerously injured. Xaden brings her to a safe place where he reveals that her brother, who she thought dead, is in fact, alive and he's known about that the entire time. 

Violet feels utterly betrayed on all sides. Her mother is a leader in a corrupt government, hiding creatures, the true enemy, from an entire society. Her brother has let her believe he's been dead for years. Xaden has kept the truth from her on so many issues that it's hard to keep count. Dain was her best friend growing up and he sent her on a mission that was near suicide, where some of her friends didn't survive. Her own bonded dragons kept information from her that influenced her thoughts, feelings, and actions. She feels alone like never before. But she doesn't stay there. She rallies. Because she has to. Evil is coming for them and they have to do what they can to prepare, to stop the slaughter of everyone they know and love.

Violet and Xaden then proceed to have the same argument throughout the entirety of the book. All 884 pages seem to revolve around this argument. He wants her to ask him questions, especially the hard questions. She wants him to volunteer information that affects her without having to play games or know the right questions to ask. At times, I wanted to laugh. I've seen my parents who have been married 50 years have the same argument over and over that it's totally relatable. And yet, I wanted to bang my head against a wall. How can Xaden expect her to know which questions to ask if she doesn't? Of course, I can see his point of view that if she wants to know something about him or if she has a conflict, don't avoid it, just ask. Do the work to find out what you want to know. But sheesh this kind of got old and frustrating. 

I did like that Violet had a realization that the trials they're put through in the dragon rider's quadrant aren't without purpose. The teachers and leaders aren't simply cruel. And they aren't even trying to weed out the weak in the barbaric way that it appears. The purpose is to harden these warriors into steel so that they can face battle, evil really, and not flinch. Even the constant death of cadets serves a purpose. This realization was profound in a way that I don't think most readers would have been expecting--I wasn't expecting. 

I was also glad that Violet called Xaden on acting like Dain. I was feeling that way myself about how he was treating her, but I wasn't sure if the characters would address it or not. Xaden has also been keeping a pretty ginormous secret beyond all the others. 

Favorite quotes:

-They seem to form a pattern, but I'm too close to see the whole of it. There's no perspective, which pretty much feels like a metaphor for my entire life right now.

Perspective is so important, I've found. So many times I've found myself in a valley, but if I can remember to change my perspective, even if my circumstances do not change, the way I see them does and that can make all the difference. 

-"Stop bringing logic into an emotional argument."

-Love doesn't even have the decency to die. It just transforms into abject misery. That's what this ache in my chest is: misery.

-"We'll get back there. The anticipation is good for us."

-I stumble on a rock, or my feelings, but manage to catch my balance. Physically, at least.

-"You need to trust me even with secrets for this to work."

-"I'll be here when you're ready because your friendship is precious to me. But please, for the sake of that friendship, don't insult me by lying."

-"Trust has to go both ways to mean anything."

-"You want to know something true? Something real? I love you, I'm in love with you. I have been since the night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for the first time. I'm grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won't have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I'll meet Malek at your side. It's a ... good thing that you love me, too, because you're stuck with me in this life and every other that could possibly follow."

-"You raged today because you were angry. ... You got jealous because you were jealous. You grappled with inferiority because for some reason I can't understand, you feel inferior. And you lashed out with insecurity because I think both of us are just figuring this out as we go. Own your feelings like you did last year and be honest with me."

-"How long do you think it takes for someone to fall out of love? .. A day? A month? I'm asking because I don't have any experience with it. ... I'm asking ... because I think it will take you all of a heartbeat once you know."

-"My love isn't fickle. ... So you'd better live, because I'm ready to ask you all the ... questions."

-I'm quickly learning it's possible to love someone and not want to be with them at the same time.

-"I love you enough to bear the weight of your disappointment."

Man, just re-reading my highlighted sections of Iron Flame has me reliving this rollercoaster. I felt all the feelings during this book. I felt what Violet felt: sadness, betrayal, fear, love, sacrifice, work, jealousy, inferiority, power. I felt what Xaden felt: fear, love, pressure, responsibility. Even the side characters. Sloane reeling from her brother's death. Rhi feels like Violet is shutting her out. Man, I could keep going. Everything Violet goes through in just this book is mindblowing. This review will not measure up to this book. And I took too long to sit down to review it. 

And that ending...Man, I do not know how we're going to move forward with that ending. I have to say that I want to read the next book because I NEED to know how things wrap up, but I'm also dreading starting the next book because I don't love it when characters I've grown to love are facing such adversity. This is the kind of cliffhanger that leaves you feeling hopeless instead of all positive and tingly for what might be to come. 

Sheesh, I think I've rambled all over the place trying to describe Iron Flame and how I felt about it. I can't say that I'm hopeful for where our characters left off, but this rollercoaster ride was nothing short of 4.5 Stars. It would have been 5 Stars without that ending. Sheesh. Have you read Iron Flame? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Can't Wait for Bloodguard

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Bloodgaurd (Old Erth, # 1)

By: Cecy Robson

Expected Publication: October 8, 2024 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Red Tower Books)

512 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--One hundred years. Tens of thousands of gladiators. And today, only one will rise…

Everything in the Kingdom of Arrow is a lie.

Leith of Grey thought coming to this new land and volunteering to fight in the gladiator arena—vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments where only the strongest survive—would earn him enough gold to save his dying sister. He thought there was nothing left to lose.

He was wrong—and they took everything. His hope. His freedom. His very humanity.

All Leith has left is his battle-scarred body, fueled by rage and hardened from years of fighting for the right to live another day.

Then Leith meets Maeve, an elven royal who is everything he despises. Everything he should hate. Until the alluring princess offers him the one thing he needs most: a chance to win the coveted title of Bloodguard—and his freedom.

But in a kingdom built on secrets and lies, hope doesn’t come cheap.

Nor will his ultimate revenge…

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!