Beneath a Crescent Shadow - Review

Beneath a Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends, # 1)

By: A.L. Sowards

Publication: June 4, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

351 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--After an arranged marriage, Konstantin and Suzana must find a way to meet the demands of a conquering Ottoman sultan amid a torrent of setbacks and dangers much closer to their Balkan home.

The Balkans, 1373

A devastating battle claimed the lives of Konstantin's father, uncle, and most of their Serb army, leaving him to rule as a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, a role he is wholly unprepared for. Between war, famine, and a persistent band of brigands, Konstantin is nearly bankrupt. He will need to find a wealthy bride to marry if he is to have any hope of saving his lands and securing his future.

A betrothal to Suzana, the daughter of a prosperous merchant, is soon arranged, and upon meeting her, Konstantin immediately feels hope that their marriage could someday grow into love. Yet, from the moment of Konstantin and Suzana's betrothal, enemies threaten their lives, outlaws prey on their lands, and the terrors of Suzana's abusive past haunt their fragile new relationship. As this onslaught of threats closes in, the two face challenges that will test their love, their faith, and their hope to save their people and win their freedom from the heavy weight of Ottoman oppression.

I've gotten interested in historical fiction, but I've stuck to mostly one period while reading. I have watched a few TV shows that are historical fiction not in the same period. So that encouraged me to branch out and try reading about the Ottoman Empire and The Balkans as this book is set in 1373. I did struggle in the beginning with the language because there's so much I don't know or understand about what things are called. The clothes they wore. Their armor. It's an entire language on its own. I've learned much about Regency England through many many books, so I tried to give myself grace with all the new to me terms.

One thing I have no issues getting hooked into is arranged marriages or marriages of convenience. Konstantin needs to marry for money. He needs the dowry that a wife can bring to him to protect his lands and his people. Suzana doesn't necessarily need to marry, but she wants to get out of her father's household. At the same time, her relationship with her father hasn't set her up for much knowledge about how a healthy relationship should be between a husband and wife. Her father is a wealthy merchant, so providing a dowry for her isn't difficult. But Suzana has a secret that might keep away prospective husbands. 

Suzana is a timid mouse. She's not been treated well and finds it hard to trust Konstantin. Konstantin can't figure out why she is so scared of him. But they haven't even returned to Konstantin's home before Suzana is attacked. Konstantin is being attacked on all sides. Someone is out to get him. That much is obvious. 

Favorite quotes:

-...tragedy does not make happiness impossible.

-"As much as I want to, I can't take away your fear. You have to ask God if He can take it from you or help you bear it."

-Sometimes life was like that. Compromise. Balancing different wants and needs into something that would work, even if it wasn't perfect for anyone.

-"Death is not better than hardship."

-"Hope doesn't have to be practical in order to be real, in order to be just. The timing is not right, not now. Maybe not for years. But that doesn't mean we stop dreaming of it."

-"You do not have to be invincible to have my love. And you don't have to be without sin to have God's forgiveness."

-"I know what it is to be haunted by the past, but, Kostya, the past doesn't have to hold hostage your future."

I ended up really enjoying Beneath a Crescent Shadow. The Christian elements were so enjoyable. I love seeing characters that are real and that struggle. And I love it when books don't shy away from the hard questions or the difficult subjects. Sometimes we just don't have all the answers. Beneath a Crescent Shadow was so much better than I was expecting it to be. I loved the characters, main and secondary. And I can't wait to see what happens with Ivan's story next. Beneath a Crescent Shadow gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Beneath a Crescent Shadow? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Onyx Storm

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.

Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Expected Publication: January 21, 2025 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

? pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

( 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 STORM IS COMING . . .

Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons.
No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun; and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre.
The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves - her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army.
They need power.
They need magic.
And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming... and not everyone can survive its wrath.

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

The Gentleman's Confession - Review

The Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamas, # 3)

By: Anneka R Walker

Publication: October 22, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (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--Inexperienced in courtship and love, Jemma turns to her best friend, Miles, for guidance on how to win a man’s heart—not knowing that Miles has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Despite his selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

The matchmaking mamas strike again. When Jemma's grandmother passes away, she extracts a promise from Jemma on her deathbed. Jemma agrees to marry when she was previously against the idea. She's an independent woman after all, and her financial stability doesn't rely on a man's income either. But that's not all. She promises her grandmother to marry for love. And the truth is she wants what her grandmother had. Love and family. 

Miles has been in love with Jemma since they were kids. But she was always against marriage so he never thought he (or anyone else) had a shot with her. When she up and changes her mind, he's thrown into a tailspin. Especially because she asks him to teach her how to fall in love with the man the Matchmaking Mamas have picked for her. 

To make matters worse, Lisette, Jemma's cousin, has been in love with Miles since he saved her from drowning as a child. Jemma would never stand in the way of Lisette's happiness. And over time, expectations have risen that Miles and Lisette will eventually marry. Miles has never wanted to marry Lisette though, and he has always struggled with balancing their friendship with not raising her expectations. I'm a firm believer that two people cannot be friends when one of them has feelings for the other. No matter how careful the person without feelings is the other often reads too much into every small interaction. 

I don't love books where the main characters are willing to forego their happiness for the sake of someone else--especially when a little communication could clear up many misunderstandings. I mean don't get me wrong. I'm not a "happiness reigns supreme" kind of person. I don't believe happiness comes before moral rightness. But in cases like these, simply having a conversation with someone, and being open and vulnerable would have prevented a lot of heartache. So in this way, I don't think The Gentleman's Confession was executed in the best way. 

My heart ached for Miles. Unrequited love is so hard. And he's been watching his love from afar for so long. Once his secret was out, he got a little saucy with his flirting. But Jemma probably needed the directness to force her not to ignore him or her feelings. I also felt his lessons on love could be useful for just about anyone. He gave some of the most quotable moments which I'll share below.

Favorite quotes:

-"I'll write the words across my heart, never to be forgotten," she quipped. His forehead creased. "If only you would."

-"Misunderstandings are easy, are they not? They can make a wedge between a couple and prevent love from blossoming or even kill it completely."

-"Get her to talk about herself. Then based on your conversation, think of something nice to do for her. When you serve someone, you start to think differently about them. It's an amazing thing."

-"The theme this time is sacrifice. Think of something dear to you that you can give up for a time."

-"If love is solely self-serving, it chokes the other person."

-"...work too much or not enough. This is the same for both the poor and the rich. There seems to be a fine balance in which relationships hang on the pendulum. When out of balance, the couple suffers. Frivolity, relaxation, or social engagements, whatever form of play it is, can be tiresome in its excess. It, too, requires the utmost care of balance."

-Life was more than just keeping others happy.

-...giving is the only service compensated from the heart.

-"Remember not to settle for the easy road. Not when the harder path takes us toward a greater happiness."

-"I cannot give you the world, but this hand is yours if you want it."

One small pet peeve: Nowhere in Scripture does the Bible teach that humans become angels when we die. There was only one passing statement about this, but it bothered me all the same. 

The Gentleman's Confession was another enjoyable installment in the Matchmaking Mamas series. I don't love when characters know their behavior could hurt others. A simple, open conversation is more likely to be respected and appreciated. That being said, I still enjoyed The Gentleman's Confession and things couldn't have worked out better for all involved. And I can't wait to see what gets cooked up for Ian in the next book. The Gentleman's Confession gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Gentlenman's Confession? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/3/24

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Monday was back to school after our vacation. I honestly barely remember Monday or Tuesday. Oh wait, Tuesday, I tok the kids to the park. They played about an hour. Then we picked up donuts for Big Boy's birthday. Then we did my grocery pickup. Wednesday was Big Boy's birthday, but I also had some appointments scheduled. So we had to get up and rush through presents and a donut breakfast. I rushed Little Boy to school and then had an eye doctor appointmnet. I decided to give the kids the morning off school, but we did do afternoon school. Then we had to run our puppy to the vet for his first appointment with us. He did great and is a very healthy boy. Big Boy didn't have great behavior on his birthday. I always hate when that happens on special days. It always reminds me of The Berenstein Bear's Too Much Birthday. Thursday we had co-op. Of course, we had trick-or-treating. Our neighborhood has always been really active in those who decorate and participate in trick-or-treating, but this year was kind of disappointing. A lot of houses that normally participate didn't. And we didn't see nearly the same number of trick-or-treaters. A couple of houses keep count and they looked to have about half the numbers this year. Friday morning, I had to wake up early and go to my annual physical with my GP. That went well. I got home in enough time to do a shortened morning routine with the kids. It was a long day with not the best behavior, but honestly, I think every teacher everywhere will say that the day after Halloween is a bit of a trainwreck. Saturday, we had a two-for. My great-nephew's 1st birthday party was at 2 and then we had a wedding to go to at 5. After tomorrow our days will slow down until the week of Thanksgiving. And man do we need a break.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of The Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, # 1) by Mary E Pearson (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: All Things Halloween Review of Knight of the Goddess (Blood of a Fae, # 4) by Briar Boleyn (3.5 Stars)
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, # 1) by Stephanie Garber (4 Stars)
Friday: October 2024 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamas, # 3) by Anneka R Walker
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Beneath the Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends, # 1) by AL Soward
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Biscuit Meets the Class Pet

My annual "All Things Halloween" event wrapped up. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, # 1)

By: Alwyn Hamilton

Publication: May 5th 2020 by Faber & Faber

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Bestselling Rebel of the Sands author Alwyn Hamilton is back with a glittering thriller about a glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.

But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.

And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.

With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.

Incredible tests, impossible choices and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

October 2024 EOM Wrap Up

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is ending. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

I read 6 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
When He Was Wicked (The Bridgertons, # 6) by Julia Quinn
The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, # 1) by Peter Brown (re-read)
*A Dawn of Gods and Fury (Fate & Flame, # 4) by KA Tucker
The Art of Us by Julie Wright
The Giver (The Giver, # 1) by Lois Lowry
*The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mamas, # 4) by Anneka R Walker

I have reviewed 15 books (not including mini reviews of children's books). *These qualify for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Death King (Death, # 1) by Penelope Barsetti
The Hollow Vows (The Hollow Vows, # 1) by Lexi Ryan
Serpent Sea (Spice Road Trilogy, # 2) by Maiya Ibrahim
The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, # 1) by Peter Brown
*These Twisted Bonds (The Hollow Vows, # 2) by Lexi Ryan
Nymph Totem by Brittni Chenelle
The Court that Bleeds (The Gold Weaver, # 1) by Zara Storm
Kingdom Cold (Kingdom Cold, # 1) by Brittni Chenelle
Vows and Ruins (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 2) by Helen Scheuerer
Empress of Fae (Blood of a Fae, # 3) by Briar Boleyn
The Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
*Knight of the Goddess (Blood of a Fae, # 4) by Briar Boleyn
Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, # 1) by Stephanie Garber

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 10/06/24
Sunday Post - 10/13/24
Sunday Post - 10/20/24
Sunday Post - 10/27/24
Can't Wait for Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
Can't Wait for The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
Can't Wait for Midnights with You by Clare Osongco
Can't Wait for To Charm the Dark Prince (The Iron Crystals, # 1) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 92 out of 65 books (not including children's books).
I've read 6 out of 5-10 series enders.