Death in a Budapest Butterfly | Book Review

Death in a Budapest Butterfly 

- Julia Buckley 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from Goodreads

Hana Keller serves up European-style cakes and teas in her family-owned tea house, but when a customer keels over from a poisoned cuppa, Hana and her tea-leaf reading grandmother will have to help catch a killer in the first Hungarian Tea House Mystery from Julia Buckley.

Hana Keller and her family run Maggie's Tea House, an establishment heavily influenced by the family's Hungarian heritage and specializing in a European-style traditional tea service. But one of the shop's largest draws is Hana's eccentric grandmother, Juliana, renowned for her ability to read the future in the leaves at the bottom of customers' cups. Lately, however, her readings have become alarmingly ominous and seemingly related to old Hungarian legends...

When a guest is poisoned at a tea event, Juliana’s dire predictions appear to have come true. Things are brought to a boil when Hana’s beloved  Anna Weatherley butterfly teacup becomes the center of the murder investigation as it carried the poisoned tea. The cup is claimed as evidence by a handsome police detective, and the pretty Tea House is suddenly endangered.  Hana and her family must catch the killer to save their business and bring the beautiful Budapest Butterfly back home where it belongs.

My Review

Beauty meets death in this new series by Julia Buckley, which features Hungarian culture, family, and folklore. The Hungarian elements mixed with the cozy mystery nicely, making this a fun, unique read. It was fascinating learning about Easter European history and culture (and yummy food), and the slightly paranormal aspect was entertaining without being overly unrealistic. I love that the Budapest Butterfly is a Hungarian tea cup and that Hana loves it just because it is beautiful. 

However, the romance was way too insta-lovey, but levels off in a good way, and the police investigation wasn't as realistic, but that is to be expected in a cozy. 

Overall, I did really enjoy this book. I read it in less than a day! I look forward to reading the next book in the series. 

Disclosure: I obtained a copy of this eARC for review through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Crown of Midnight | Book Review!

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Author

“A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend.”

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Bold, daring, and lethal, assassin Celaena Sardothien won the brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then, an unspeakable tragedy shatters Celaena’s world. She must decide once and for all where her loyalties lie . . . and whom she will fight for.

My Review

Page Count: 418

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: Throne of Glass, Book 2

CW: violence, sensual scenes, mild profanity

HOLY CRAP THIS WAS SO GOOD! I enjoyed this more than the first book, Throne of Glass. The beginning of the book started off a bit slow for my taste, but it picked up quickly. There is a lot more action and character development in this novel. The plot really progressed as Celaena's story unfolds.

I wasn't a huge fan of Dorian in Throne of Glass, but he grew a lot in Crown of Midnight. I love the friendship that has developed between him and Celaena, and I look forward to seeing how it grows in the following books. 

I LOVED Chaol in this installment! He was genuine and really grew as a character. I loved seeing his internal thoughts and what drives him. 

Celaena grew as well, but not as much as I would have liked. However, she is dealing with a lot of heavy stuff in this book, so I understand why it is taking her longer. She has suffered through some horrible events in her life, and they are beginning to be revealed in Crown of Midnight. Celaena did get on my nerves at times because she is stubborn and strong-willed, wanting to protect the people she loves. I understand her motivations, but it was frustrating to watch. 

The death in this book broke my heart, and the ending was a HUGE info bomb. I had to get my hands on Heir of Fire immediately after finishing Crown of Midnight. I plan on filming a more in depth review of this video for my BookTube channel.

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The Wicked Deep

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

A New York Times bestseller

Deluxe edition with special embellishments on first printing only.

Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

My Review

The Wicked Deep is set in a small town, Sparrow, Oregon, in the present day. It is a paranormal, atmospheric read with magic, a curse, sisters, and love. Even though Sparrow is a haunted town, the "main event" happens in June before the summer solstice. Everyone in town knows that the Swan Sisters return every year to take boys, and they believe in and accept the lore of the Swan Sisters' story. The romance in this book is really good, with a conflict that did not end the way I expected. 

I do have a few critiques. I wish Bo's character had been developed a bit more. I liked him, but he wasn't quite three dimensional. I also didn't think that the complete acceptance of actions in this book was truly realistic. I understand that the people in the town are scared, and they want to end the curse of the Swan Sisters, but ALL of the adults either wanted to kill the girls whose bodies the sisters inhabited (to ultimately kill the sisters) or permitted a lackadaisical attitude toward protecting the boys in town. In real life, I think measures would have been put in place to protect the townspeople, such as banning parties on the night before the sisters' annual return. 

Shea Ernshaw's writing is exquisite, magical, and a little spooky. I read this book in one sitting, and because the book was only 308 pages, it didn't drag in any part of the story. I really identified with Sparrow, Oregon because it is similar to my family home in a small town in Nova Scotia. Because of this, I could easily visualize the fog and the ocean and smell the sea breeze. This story was unique, and I haven't read anything quite like it before. Bonus: the cover is GORGEOUS! Go check it out! 

“Love is an enchantress—devious and wild.

It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

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