Olivia Wildenstein

O. M. G!! I just got trounced by Olivia Wildenstein's brain baby and loved every second of it!! I finally got around to reading House Of Beating Wings even though I got this eARC back in June. My delay mainly being due to a torn retina which sucked (of course) BUT I did happen to cultivate a more nuanced appreciation for audiobooks which is a resounding plus. BUT I'm thrilled that I'm finally able to get back to reading... what was at the top of my TBR?? Why, it was this here book... it show more battered my fragile heart and left me reeling, screaming (internally, it is 3:45 a.m. here) O.M.freaking G!!

I am by no means new to Olivia Wildenstein's work, but each time I come back to her, after any sort of hiatus, I fall back in love with her simple yet evocative style. I remember why I joined her reader's group all over again. With my ocular woes abated, I also got to wait long enough that the next installment of this series came out... back to back, hours upon hours of Fae/Shifter/witch/ enjoyment made this girl very happy! This was clutch when, in the weeist hours of the night/morning, I greedily, ravenously devoured HoBW, I was then able to segue into HoPH right away... which I did. I, like most of you have no doubt chosen once or a hundred times to disregard tomorrow for an addictive read of the moment, AND I regret nothing!! The more I read the more I felt, STRONGLY, and the more I hated you know which D-bag and crew, and the more I fell in love with the rest of this dynamic cast of full-bodied characters spearheaded by our burgeoning spitfire FMC Fallon. I loved her! I loved how she grew and her coming-of-age storyline, which is (of course) not finished progressing. I love the relationships she has... maybe excluding one fickle, sexually inattentive, Alpha-hole, BUT the rest of her relationships are ship worthy and enviable! I am ecstatic to witness the rest of her character growth.

Not only were the characters dimensional and rich and relatable... the backdrop was incredibly detailed and honestly... I wish it was I that was being chased through this picturesque/unique landscape/world... even the sketchy parts were robust and easily imagined in 8k- Mindscape.

The writing was gripping and easily transported me directly into the thick of the action. I felt like I was right there among these amazing characters, experiencing the adventure firsthand, feeling the betrayal like it was my own... even though I saw that scazza from a mile away, the betrayal still stung... YET, it made room for a new paramour to come on the scene and swoon over... someone FAR more intriguing and worthy... and swoon I did!!

Overall:
Ok, ok, I'll stop gushing, but let me state, for the record, that this book had me from the start and didn't let go... not even after reading the Epilogue. In fact, by the very last page, I was hooked even deeper, body, mind, and soul!! I, just this moment finished this book, and I stopped here to quickly jot down my 2 cents AND now that I have, I'm off to the next book, House of Pounding Hearts... I'm sure there's more to say... much more, but I'm fiending for the next book so I'm dropping off my thoughts right here.

I highly recommend that if you have a few hours to devote (and a heart needing to run its paces), pick up this sexytime-lite series.

*** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. *** show less

Yes! Yes! Yes! I finally wrapped up an incredible reading journey with the Angels of Elysium series by Olivia Wildenstein. I adore this fantastic trilogy that starts out so tragic and comes full circle to a very satisfying happily ever after!

Naya and Adam’s story is the beautiful, bittersweet essence of first love–infectious and, at times, painfully awkward. One can feel that this isn’t their first experience with love, but for them, it’s fresh and uniquely theirs. A beautiful show more exploration of young love that drips with sweetness, angst, and just the right amount of clumsiness.

The exquisite tension between privileged Naya, the daughter of one of the Seven, and Adam, the beloved yet rebellious son, leads to a delightful unraveling of trust represented by lost feathers. Yes, feathers! They are a built-in truth detector and serve as a metaphor for their undeniable chemistry. And I can’t forget the line “Glow means go.” Fabulous!

When I first picked up book 3 and saw how Naya and Adam were going to be portrayed, I was both nervous and excited. How would they carry on from the events of Feather? I was thrilled to discover that the author brilliantly maintained their core personalities but also allowed them to evolve in ways that added incredible depth. Watching their growth felt not only satisfying but also emotionally rewarding. And let’s not forget the support of the lovely returning characters including my favorite, the grumpy, sexy, overprotective Asher who definitely added an extra layer of fatherly love.

This book soothed the ache I had from the first book. Olivia Wildenstein’s ability to weave suspense and emotion together is what makes this series truly shine.

If you’re a fan of the angel genre or simply love paranormal/supernatural reads, you absolutely cannot miss this series. I recommend you read this gorgeous series in order to get the ultimate experience of soulmates reunited and love conquering all. Each page is filled with heart, tension, feathers, and exhilarating twists that will keep you flipping through the night. Trust me, you won’t regret adding this one to your shelves!

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review. show less

ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Redd is Lucky Number Eight. She's won a coveted spot on a reality TV competition, The Masterpiecers, that takes place at New York's Metropolitan Museum. Competing against 7 others for the grand prize of $100,000 dollars and a spot at The Masterpiecers private art school, Ivy has far more on her mind than just the competition.
Ivy's twin, Aster, is watching on from a women's prison, the place she sits as she awaits trial for show more murder. The prize money will bail her out, will help her be free, or that is her hope until she finds out what Ivy really thinks of her.

The Masterpiecers is a psychological story of family, deceit, glamour, and suspense that will suck you in and not let you go. Twins, Ivy and Aster, are some of the most intriguing characters I have read this year, with similar looks, but piles of lies and secrets between them. Told from dual POV's, I found myself wrapped up in the relationship between the sisters and unable to pick a side. The girls are beautiful, smart, and as different as night and day. At times, both girls had me questioning their every move and jumping to support them by the next page. From papparazzi and gossip mags to buyouts and fights, the switching POV allows the readers to get to know each twin on a very personal level and slowly unwind why they seem to both love and hate one another so very much. Their unique experiences as children, their distrust, and how they view the world shaped each girl differently and I love that Wildenstein spent so much time on those characterizations.

Although I don't want to talk about it again, I know she won't let it go, so I tell her what I told everyone else. I don't tell her the real story.

The setting of the book was perfect and so believable. I loved the distinction between Astrid's closely watched time behind bars and Ivy's very public time competing in the art world. The art reality show was so unique and I had an amazing time imagining the other competitors, the artwork, and each competition Ivy took part in. The prison scenes felt so accurate, from the fighting to the friendship. While the two girls were living life from incredibly different locations, the general atmosphere of the book carried over to both girls. It's a heavy novel, with very dark undertones, and as the twists kept coming I found myself just as immersed in the mystery and distrust as the girls were. I was most impressed with how easy it was to both experience each setting as if I was one twin and watch from the outside in as the other twin. With such massive differences, it easily could have gotten away from Wildenstein, yet somehow she made the two worlds work together.

I'm the source of enough gossip already.
No need to add fuel to the fire my sister has kindled.

With beautiful prose, Olivia Wildenstein makes the characters, the prison cell, and the television show come to life right before your eyes. This lengthy and engaging novel will absolutely knock you off your feet and you'll join those of us who are impatiently waiting for the next.


My only word of warning is this, this book reads much more like a New Adult than Young Adult, with several scenes I would deem inappropriate for the YA age range. show less

This book... this book right here was everything I wanted... nay needed... in a series finale! It was harrowing and operatic and gripping and doleful and oh so bittersweet. Need I say more?? Why, yes... I'm glad you asked... yes, I do!

If you've read any of my previous reviews you could (easily) surmise (with impressive accuracy) that I would (some might say annoyingly) pepper this homage with a bevy of adjectives (a habit I am still working on curbing). Also, you'd be spot on if you were to show more assume that, had I been reflecting on the topic of these books with these characters in this World, I'd be remiss if I slacked on my fangirling and fawning over Lore... even just a little bit because yes... he is the quintessential literary Male specimen... sorry (not sorry) to say, but Will Herondale and Rhysand... you both have some new competition... and it's steep!

I promised myself that I'd keep my adoration of all things Lore to a dull roar so as not to bore you, BUT could you blame me for waxing poetically and singing his praises?? You might say yes, and you'd (arguably) be wrong (no offense) OR you haven't read the series yet... luckily, those things can be remedied... well, not having read the series can easily be rectified... your adverse opinion of the Crow King?? Now THAT can only be swayed by scouring the source material AND, if you still truly find him lacking (in any way), you'd be wrong (I mean that in the nicest way possible) AND I'd be thoroughly stumped! Pray tell... what does a mate need to do... need to be at his core... to make you swoon?? If your answer is "More than Lore," then I will, reluctantly, drop the subject of the perfect male paradigm right here and agree to disagree (a concept that niggles).

Anywho... moving right along...

The characters were the shining stars here... as it should be (imo). Our FMC, Fallon, was so well written that I felt for her/with her at every twisty curve of this emotional rollercoaster ride. I swooned with her and my heart broke for her as the story kept abruptly and drastically veering off her intended path. I felt her fickle nature and her resolute loyalty... her love her ire and every emotion in between. She was 3 dimensional, textured, mottled, and morally gray (like all good characters aught to be), AND I don't think I could have liked her more even if Mrs. Wildenstein tried... wellll, I have come to fully trust Mrs Olivia's methodic yet beautiful mind, SO if anyone could improve upon excellence, it would be she. Even the secondary and tertiary characters were robust and throughly thought out. Olivia makes meticulously portraying characters seem easy. Easy to read and easy to love/loathe accordingly. She is a master puppeteer, and I am smitten with her and her work, AND I would gleefully pay any price of admission just to have my heartstrings expertly plucked.

Speaking about plucking... did I mention the sexytime heat?? I'd probably be labeled as a book prude if asked... I blush at what most would consider tempid, BUT even those die-hard bibliophiles (minus the S&M crowd) would agree that this book has some heat... nuff said.

Epilogue 1 was from our yummy MMC, Lore's POV. It was sweet, revelatory, and meaningful yet far from insouciant. The gifted bonus epilogue was satisfying as well but from our main heroine's perspective. It was just as sexy and meaningful with just the right amount of optimism as to feel realistic for our cast.

Overall:

This is my favorite series of Mrs. Olivia Wildenstein's so far! I started a new audiobook of hers while I was simultaneously reading this gem, and all I can say is that I have become a true acolyte and a most willing marionette. Go out and get this series! Yes, it's tropey with a slow burn, enemies to lovers, fated mates, love triangle, found family, and coming of age and into one's powers journey, BUT it is done incredibly well... even the most trope adverse bibliophile will find themselves addicted to this series.. lost in the pages and ensorsuled by the drama. Go out and get it, give it a try... you'll thank me later.

~ Enjoy show less