Author: featheredfables

Greetings and Salutations my dear friends and welcome to Feathered Fables! My name is Sari and I am a bird obsessed book lover. I currently live in Central South Florida with my 14 birds and my sweet elderly puppers Lucy. You will see them on this site frequently. I started Feathered Fables in an attempt to venture out into the book world. I tend to read (and write) mostly young adult fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and romance. I do hope you will follow my journey on this site and stick around for a bit!
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My bundles of joy!

featheredfables

It has been an exciting two weeks in my household. Most of you all know that I have quite a flock of birds that I care for…. well that number just increased by two! I am happy to announce that my cockatiels, Stella and Dusty, are the proud parents of these two little cuties!!

After much debate and 239420342309 name changes, I think I have finally settled on Gizmo and Bowie for their names. They are so sweet! If you want to keep up with their progress (and see how weird they looked just 10 days ago) check out their instagram www.instagram.com/NerdyBirds_

It has been super exciting watching them grow so fast! I have been hand feeding them (along with the parents) and it is almost like having a real newborn! They eat every two hours (and they definitely let you know when they are hungry).

I just wanted to share this little piece of my everyday life with you!

❤ Sari B.

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Book Review: Unspeakable Things

featheredfables
Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school, and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them.
All that changes when someone comes hunting in Lilydale.
One by one, local boys go missing. One by one, they return changed—violent, moody, and withdrawn. What happened to them becomes the stuff of shocking rumors. The accusations of who’s responsible grow just as wild, and dangerous town secrets start to surface. Then Cassie’s own sister undergoes the dark change. If she is to survive, Cassie must find her way in an adult world where every sin is justified, and only the truth is unforgivable.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting read…It was borderline uncomfortable at times. The title really has this story pegged. A lot of what happens is very unspeakable. This story should really come with a trigger warning. There is incest, molestation, abduction, and swingers parties. 

Although the story itself is dark, it is very well written and very compelling. As I do with most books, I don’t like to dive too deep into the guts of a book because I don’t want to give away spoilers. I was not immediately pulled into this book, it took me quite a bit of this book to get into it. 

I would say this isn’t an easy read just because of the premises alone. It has a lot of very hard to swallow subject matter, but it was executed well. Thank you kindly to Jess Lourey, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title. 
Cover art and synopsis taken from NetGalley.

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Book Review: This Light Between Us

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In 1935, ten-year-old Alex Maki from Bainbridge Island, Washington is disgusted when he’s forced to become pen pals with Charlie Lévy of Paris, France—a girl. He thought she was a boy. In spite of Alex’s reluctance, their letters continue to fly across the Atlantic—and along with them, the shared hopes and dreams of friendship. Until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the growing Nazi persecution of Jews force them to confront the darkest aspects of human nature.
From the desolation of an internment camp on the plains of Manzanar to the horrors of Auschwitz and the devastation of European battlefields, the only thing they can hold onto are the memories of their letters. But nothing can dispel the light between them.

I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I got the notification that I would be reviewing this book. I was completely hooked from the synopsis and I couldn’t wait to dive in. This book is so full of emotions. I felt absolutely everything. I felt sadness, anger, happiness, bewilderment, and embarrassment. Even though it was an emotional read, it wasn’t overly sentimental.  

I read a ton of historical fiction and I will almost always pick up anything written about WWII but this one grabbed my attention in such a way that to be honest, I just cannot explain. It was so raw and heartbreaking in such an organic way. My one complaint (usually) with historical fiction is the lack of research on the authors part, but Andrew Fukuda did such a beautiful job 

Alex and Charley’s story made my heart ache for them. They made me laugh and cry. I worried for them. I hurt for them. I wanted to know everything about them. I rather enjoyed reading this from Alex’s perspective. I feel that the story really couldn’t have been as compelling if it had been from Charley’s perspective. Even though you only really hear from Charley when you are reading the letters from her to Alex, you really get to know her deeply as a character. 

The ending was completely unexpected but it was still an amazing read and I feel it should be on everyone’s TBR list! 

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Andrew Fukuda, and Macmillian-Tor Forge for letting me review this wonderful story. It broke my heart, but I still really enjoyed it.

Images and synopsis taken from NetGalley

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Book Review: Jane Anonymous

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Seven months.
That’s how long I was kept captive.
Locked in a room with a bed, refrigerator, and adjoining bathroom, I was instructed to eat, bathe, and behave. I received meals, laundered clothes, and toiletries through a cat door, never knowing if it was day or night. The last time I saw the face of my abductor was when he dragged me fighting from the trunk of his car. And when I finally escaped, I prayed I’d never see him again.
Now that I’m home, my parents and friends want everything to be like it was before I left. But they don’t understand that dining out and shopping trips can’t heal what’s broken inside me. I barely leave my bedroom. Therapists are clueless and condescending. So I start my own form of therapy—but writing about my experience awakens uncomfortable memories, ones that should’ve stayed buried. How far will I have to go to uncover the truth of what happened—and will it break me forever?

I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

God what a book. I haven’t cried this hard in a LONG time. This book was so intense and I just found myself hurting for Jane. Her story is so provocative and scary. This is one of those stories so raw and painful that it’s almost hard to read. I could feel my chest tighten and a lump in my throat through most of it. I had to step away a few times to compose myself. Laurie takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and even though this book is not one of those action-packed thrillers, it still takes you for a ride. 

Laurie does such an amazing job of telling Jane’s story both before during her captivity and while she is trying to get her life back after. I really enjoyed the journal type format. I felt like it really kept me in suspense and I felt like a friend of Jane’s peering into her life from her diary. It almost felt uncomfortable in a very invasive way like we were invading Jane’s privacy again after all that she had been through. I loved how Jane spoke directly to us, it just made the story feel almost too real. 

I found myself a big fan of Laurie’s writing style as well as her character development and plot structure. I would highly recommend this novel! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Laurie Faria Stolarz, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to review this title.

Image and synopsis taken from Netgalley

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Book Review: A Love Hate Thing

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When they’re stuck under one roof, the house may not be big enough for their hate…or their love.

When Tyson Trice finds himself tossed into the affluent coastal community of Pacific Hills, he’s ready for the questions, the stares and the feeling of not belonging in the posh suburb. Not that he cares. After recovering from being shot and surviving the mean streets of Lindenwood, he doesn’t care about anyone or anything. He doesn’t even care how the rest of his life will play out.

In Pacific Hills, image is everything. Something that, as the resident golden girl, Nandy Smith knows all too well. She’s spent most of her life building the pristine image it takes to fit in. After learning that her parents are taking in a teen boy, Nandy fears her summer plans, as well as her reputation, will go up in flames. It’s the start of summer vacation, and the last thing Nandy needs is some juvenile delinquent from the ’Wood crashing into her world.

Stuck together in close quarters, Trice and Nandy are in for some long summer nights. Only, with the ever-present pull back to the Lindenwood streets, it’ll be a wonder if Trice makes it through this summer at all.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book just didn’t grab me. For me it was kind of boring. I felt it lacked depth and was overall very predictable. I find I have a problem with most contemporary books, so I don’t blame the author at all. 

It was well written, but for me it fell flat. I did love the racial diversity depicted in this book. It also had a lot to do with adoption which is another trope we don’t see very often. It was a cute book but it is not one that will stick with you after. I would consider it a good pallet cleanse. 

The author does touch on trauma and that can be triggering for sensitive viewers, especially the parts written from Tyson’s point of view. That part was a bit heart breaking. We can all resonate with that self deprecation, so with that being said this book is very relatable. 

Tyson’’s story is also super emotional. He dealt with so much survivors guilt and watching him go from losing his whole family to basically a new life was both inspiring and gut wrenching. I didn’t really connect with Nance at all but I did really enjoy Tyson’s pov. 

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.

A Love Hate thing is now available for preorder at all your favorite retailers! Get yours ordered before January 7th!
Cover art and synopsis taken from NetGalley.

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Book Review: The Thief of Lanwyn Manor

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In Regency England an advantageous match could set up a lady for life. Julia knows Matthew Blake, copper mine owner and very eligible bachelor, is the gentleman she should set her eyes upon. But why can’t she steal her gaze away from his younger brother, Isaac?
Cornwall, England, 1818
Julia Twethewey needs a diversion to mend her broken heart, so when her cousin invites her to Lanwyn Manor, Julia eagerly accepts. The manor is located at the heart of Cornwall’s mining industry, and as a guest Julia is swept into its intricate world. It’s not long, though, before she realizes something dark lurks within the home’s ancient halls.
As a respected mine owner’s younger son, Isaac Blake is determined to keep his late father’s legacy alive through the family business, despite his brother’s careless attitude. In order to save their livelihood—and that of the people around them—the brothers approach the master of Lanwyn Manor with plans to bolster the floundering local industry. Isaac can’t deny his attraction to the man’s charming niece, but his brother has made clear his intentions to court the lovely visitor. And Isaac knows his place.
When tragedy strikes, mysteries arise, and valuables go missing, Julia and Isaac find they are pulled together in a swirl of strange circumstances, but despite their best efforts to bow to social expectations, their hearts aren’t so keen to surrender.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series by Sarah Ladd. The covers are always stunning! You definitely need to read the first book in this series before diving into this one. These books CAN be read as stand alones, but I always recommend reading the first one. It is easy to get sucked into these because Sarah Ladd’s writing is just simply divine. 

The story does move a little slow, and the plot is very character driven. This is a good thing for these stories. This book is a good suspenseful read and I really enjoyed it a lot! One thing I love about Ladd’s writing is even though it takes a few chapters to get invested, once you do you just HAVE to finish them to see what happens. She has this way of hooking you in and making you care about her characters that you do not see in a lot of authors. 

I really cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out. I cannot wait to see whose story we get to dive into next! I want to thank the author Sarah Ladd, the Publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.
The Thief of Lanwyn Manor is ready to be added to your preorder cart today!! Order it today and be ready for that release date on January 7th!!

Cover art and synopsis taken from NetGalley.

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Book Review: Lady Hotspur

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STRIKE FAST, LOVE HARD, LIVE FOREVER
This is the motto of the Lady Knights—sworn to fealty under a struggling kingdom, promised to defend the prospective heir, Banna Mora.
But when a fearsome rebellion overthrows the throne, Mora is faced with an agonizing choice: give up everything she’s been raised to love, and allow a king-killer to be rewarded—or retake the throne, and take up arms against the newest heir, Hal Bolingbrooke, Mora’s own childhood best friend and sworn head of the Lady Knights.
Hal loathes being a Prince; she’s much more comfortable instated on the Throne of Misrule, a raucous underground nether-court where passion rules all. She yearns to live up to the wishes of everyone she loves best—but that means sacrificing her own heart, and so she will disappoint everyone until the moment she can rise to prove those expectations wrong.
And between these two fierce Princes is the woman who will decide all their fates—Lady Hotspur Persy, the fiery and bold knight whose support will turn the tides of the coming war.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It took me way longer than I had anticipated to get into this book. I really expected to be drawn in from page one, but it took me several chapters to really get into the story. Once I got past the first few chapters, I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down. 

I especially loved the world building the author did! It was so intricate. The magic system was sooo well thought out. You can tell the author really understood what she was trying to establish on the page. 

One thing I didn’t like was the amount of characters that were in the book. It was a lot of people to keep up with and to keep track of. It almost felt like there were too many main characters. I feel you definitely need to read the prequel before you dive into this one. It will help you get your bearings before jumping in. 

This is a very female dominant story, and those are usually my favorite. Overall, a good read! Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title. 

Lady Hotspur hits shelves on January 7th! Get yours preordered today!

Cover art and synopsis taken from NetGalley.

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Happy New Year!!!

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Happy New Year my fellow book nerds!! Weird question, does it ever bother you when people say “Happy New YearS”? It’s only one year!! Drop the S!!!! Such a strange little pet peeve of mine. I dislike it more than when people say “oh I haven’t seen you all year!” Anywhozille! I hope you all had a fantastic and safe New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day!

In my Christmas post I mentioned that I had some new things in the works for Feathered Fables and I wanted to go into detail about the fun things we have coming! This isn’t the entire list, because some of the things I have in the works will not take place until summer! So without further delay.. Here we go!

We are getting our own domain name!

Yep! You read that right! I have officially started the process of moving to a legit domain name! We will become featheredfables.com VERY soon! I am super excited to launch this. It almost feels a smidgen intimidating at the same time though!

More non book review posts!

For 2020 I have set my goals for posting more non book review posts. I want to post more about my ideal casts for books turned to movies, book to movie/show comparisons, and just random bookish stuff but not limit myself to reviews only.

Feathered Fables Book Club/Readalongs

This is one of the things I am most excited for! I am in the process of starting my own book club/buddy read group on facebook! The second week of each month I am planning on starting a new read along for all of my book nerd friends to join me on! We will read and discuss and just have a good time! If you have any suggestions for the first book let me know!!

More information about my feathered friends!

As you know, my other passion is birds and I would love to share them more with you! I plan on posting a bit more photos of them as well as their back stories, how I picked their names, and what I think their favorite books would be! I am super excited for you to meet them as they are such a big and wonderful part of my life!

Tuesday Top Tens!

My other post goal for 2020 is to release a “top ten”post every Tuesday! I want to really dive into different genres and I feel this will help me do so! At the moment I have several ready to be posted! So be prepared! This wont JUST be about books either! I plan on making this a bit about everything! Shows, Movies, etc.

I am really excited about 2020 and I feel it will be a year of growth for not just me, but for everyone. I hope to stick to a good schedule of posting and I cannot wait til this summer for my BIG announcement! I love you all and I hope you have had a safe and wonderful holiday season ❤

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Book Review: Everafter Song

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There’s a price on Everley Donovan’s head. Fleeing from the queen’s false accusation of murder and sorcery, the girl with the clock heart knows there’s only one way to prove her innocence. Everley must catch Killian Markham, the fugitive prince guilty of the crimes for which she’s been condemned. To do that, Everley must follow him into the towering realm of the Silver-Clouded Plain. It’s where flesh-eating Behemoths thrive, long-lost gods hide, and an artifact of destructive force awaits the death grip of the immortal prince.
Haunted by visions of burning Everwoods and bloody battlefields, Everley’s fears are rising. Because the elusive relic threatens more than the very power that drives her clock heart. In Killian’s hands, it can lead to the dismantling of the seven worlds. With everything—and everyone—Everley loves at stake, she must depend on Killian’s one weakness to outwit him: in his mad ambitions, Killian has underestimated her once again. For Everley is the Time Bearer. This is her destiny. The time of reckoning is at hand.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Before I start with this review.. I want to just take a moment to discuss this BEAUTIFUL COVER ART. It is absolutely stunning! The colors and the instrument just are eye catching and ultimately made me more excited to read this than any other book this month. Just mesmerising!

I didn’t know about this series until I got this arc, so I immediately had to go read the other books. Boy…. I did not expect how these books turned out at all! The story is great, the characters are great, everything about this book is great!

This is one of those books I truly feel you find the moment you need to find it. Evie is one of the best heroines that I have ever embarked on a journey with. Emily R. King did such a fantastic job of creating her characters as well as story arc. 

This was a great ending to the Evermore Chronicles, I only wish I would have found these books sooner! Thank you so much to Emily R. King, Skyscape Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC.
Cover art and synopsis taken from NetGalley.

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Book Review: Traces of Evil

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There’s something wicked in Burning Lake…
Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in Burning Lake, New York, an isolated town known for its dark past. Tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of nine missing transients who have disappeared over the years, Natalie wrestles with the town’s troubled history – and the scars left by her sister’s unsolved murder years ago.
Then Daisy Buckner, a beloved schoolteacher, is found dead on her kitchen floor, and a suspect immediately comes to mind. But it’s not that simple. The suspect is in a coma, collapsed only hours after the teacher’s death, and it turns out Daisy had secrets of her own. Natalie knows there is more to the case, but as the investigation deepens, even she cannot predict the far-reaching consequences – for the victim, for the missing of Burning Lake, and for herself.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it! From the very first page I was drawn in. I loved the female lead and it left me on the edge of my seat after every turn of the page. 

I really enjoyed Natalie’s character. She was super persistent! I loved her fearless attitude and how she was ready to just jump in wherever she needed to.

This book was an amazing thriller. I love how compelling the authors writing style is and how it just sucks you in. This book wasn’t slow starting at all and kept its quick pacing all the way through. This book was definitely written to be continued! This world was too well worded to be a single book!

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.
Cover art and synopsis taken from NetGalley.