I won't spend too much time working on this review. Fairly quickly, it was apparent this is a middle-grade read with a few bits of dark gore (the only parts that kept me reading.) The 13 yr old me would have absolutely loved 'Among the Beasts and the Briars,' but the present-day me lost dedication when I realized the love interest was a fox turned human. I was looking forward to this one as I love anything with magic and forbidden forests.

Three books into 2021, and I still haven't hit a 5 star book yet. (Once Upon A Book Club book of the month box.) Book ThreeĪmong the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston Overall a sweet, if not super deep, easy read. The ending was beautiful, and I definitely cheered the characters on when they finally stood up for themselves - but I also found myself not super invested. Each was a bit of a stereotype and I never connected with any of them, except Aunt Poppy. Mainly, I didn't find a lot of depth in the characters. If you read this book for only one reason, let it be to learn from Aunt Poppy. I loved the travel scenes, and most especially I loved Aunt Poppy. The idea of this story is beautiful and captivating, but something just didn't hit the mark all the way for me. Then one day, three second born sisters decided to break the curse together. Generations of sisters plagued by a supposed curse on the second sister that ultimately shapes their relationships with each other.

This book would make a perfect cross over to movie land. The phrase 'hit it and quit it' exists for a reason. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielmanĭear ladies: if you find yourself really digging a guy, don't sleep with him the first night you meet him. Still - the ending was satisfying and I highly recommend the series to anyone who loves bloody, intense, young adult-ish Fantasy. And the Commandant was basically nonexistent in this book. Helene deserved so much better than what she got. This was such a bummer because his character was my favorite and multidimensional - not having the full Elias was a book buzz kill. Stuck in his role of Soul Catcher, Elias for the most part had zero substance or personality. I enjoyed the first few chapters and the last few, but the middle found me struggling to keep going. A lot of wandering around the desert, a lot of scenes repeating, and not a lot of movement until the very end where it almost seemed rushed. The fourth book came across as repetitive. Unfortunately, I think this story could have been wrapped up in three books instead of four. The first book blew my mind and the next two were hard to put down. Sabaa Tahir is incredibly gifted with words. The story follows three main characters fighting supernatural beings in a war torn world. For the record - I have absolutely loved this reading journey.

Share book reviews and ratings with Ashley, and even join a book club on Goodreads.īook four and the final installment of the 'An Ember in the Ashes' series.

Among the beasts and briars owlcrate