The Encanto's Daughter (The Encanto's Daughter #1) Melissa de la Cruz

 

The Encanto's Daughter (The Encanto's Daughter #1) 

By: Melissa de la Cruz

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌗 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Length: 320 Pages

Pace: Medium

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Age Range: 12 year+ 

Diwata is the Philappino word for fairy; creatures that are closely tied to nature. Mam babarang is a witch that utilizes insects to do their evil deeds.

'The Encanto's Daughter' taught me so many interesting things about Philappino mythology, a mythos that was completely unfamiliar to me. Cruz incorporated multiple cultural references to fairies from all over the world. I hope that if this series continues or has spin-offs she will delve into those other worlds. 

MJ Rodriguez and her mother have been on the run the entirety of her life. She has always known that she is a Princess and next in line to rule the Sirena Court. When her father suffers an unexpected death, MJ must return to Sirena. Unfortunately, maintaining her claim to the throne will not be easy. Insurgents are rising against her, claiming she is not the true heir to the crown, at school the other students prove to be bullies and no better than her classmates back in the human realm. To make matters more complicated, she believes that her father may have been murdered and no one seems to be investigating his death.

Cruz developed a beautiful world filled with bright descriptions of the flora and fauna as well as the unique creatures within the mythology. The story is easily rated 'PG' and appropriate for pre-teens. I am excited to see where the next installment will take me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

'The Encanto's Daughter' available now. 

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The Forever Rule (The Cage Family #1) Carrie Ann Ryan

 

The Forever Rule (The Cage Family #1) 

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance

Length: 410 Pages

Pace: Fast

Release Date: January 6, 2025

I blew through this book very quickly. I had been eagerly anticipating this series since Carrie Ann Ryan drew our attention to the future storyline in a prior book. 'The Forever Rule' was emotional and painful, as I fully anticipated it to be, with a wonderfully happy ending for the main characters. I have a feeling that every story in this new series is going to be a heart wrenching, emotional roller coaster ride considering the underlying issue each character is struggling to deal with. An incredible family secret connects twelve individuals in a way they could have never imagined. When Carrie Ann Ryan introduced her big secret at the end of 'His Second Chance', I knew it was the start of something that promised to be a very deep and emotional series. I am enjoying all the new characters, getting to know their quirks, strengths, and flaws and I always appreciate a story that includes familiar characters from prior books, such as Phoebe and Ford. Their inclusion brings an element of old friendship to a new storyline.

Aston could have grown up to be a grade A jerk considering his parents and the expectations his father had placed on him but he has survived enough life struggles to understand he is more fortunate than some in life. Long before his father's death he had be co-running the family empire with his brothers. The Cage siblings have managed to take the business to a level of success beyond what could have been imagined, and yet it still wasn't good enough for his dad. While attending a charity function, Aston shared a single dance, and a steamy kiss, with a stunning woman who had taken his breath away. Little did he know that events from that evening would plummet him and his brothers into a crazy situation.

Blakely was not satisfied with her job or her boss. Unfortunately, a single dance at a charity event brought about her termination. Her boss considered the Cage family his competition and accused Blakely of colluding with the enemy. After a series of failed interviews she is left with one last option, applying to work for the Cage family. Happy to bring her on with the company, Blakely is brought front and center with a man she hasn't spoken to in three months, not since that fated dance. Can she maintain a professional work relationship with a man who swept her off her feet? 

The bigger question is, 'Can Aston get out of his own way to hold on to the one amazing thing going great in his life?' If this book is any indicator of what the series future holds I am in for one wild ride.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

'A Sea of Unspoken Things' releases January 6, 2025. 

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