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Prophecies of Angels and Demons #1
Grave Secrets
What would you sacrifice for the truth?
Life feels infinite when you're young, but Allie Graves knows all too well that she's living on borrowed time. Six years ago, she made a deal to save her life in exchange for service to the angels. It seemed like a sweet bargain when she made it, but what do seventeen-year-olds know about making life choices? Now her six years of service are up and returning to her mortal life comes with some serious consequences.
To top it off, a mystery man has come into her life, but the angels aren't fond of his brand of magic, so they've made it their mission to end him. How's a girl supposed to get a date when the guy might not survive the week?
Allie has less than a month to uncover a family secret, save the hottie, and plan for life after angel duty. It's a tall order.
Fans of J Bree and Patricia Briggs will be swept away by this urban fantasy romance full of dark magic, family secrets, and gut-wrenching twists. From the first page to the last, you won't want to put it down. This book is recommended for 18+ due to mature content.
Book one in the Prophecies of Angels and Demons trilogy.
Life feels infinite when you're young, but Allie Graves knows all too well that she's living on borrowed time. Six years ago, she made a deal to save her life in exchange for service to the angels. It seemed like a sweet bargain when she made it, but what do seventeen-year-olds know about making life choices? Now her six years of service are up and returning to her mortal life comes with some serious consequences.
To top it off, a mystery man has come into her life, but the angels aren't fond of his brand of magic, so they've made it their mission to end him. How's a girl supposed to get a date when the guy might not survive the week?
Allie has less than a month to uncover a family secret, save the hottie, and plan for life after angel duty. It's a tall order.
Fans of J Bree and Patricia Briggs will be swept away by this urban fantasy romance full of dark magic, family secrets, and gut-wrenching twists. From the first page to the last, you won't want to put it down. This book is recommended for 18+ due to mature content.
Book one in the Prophecies of Angels and Demons trilogy.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
295 people are currently reading
9573 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Aston
13 books173 followersCassandra Aston writes dark fantasy and romantasy packed with dangerous magic, court intrigue, sharp banter, and love that would burn the world before it lets go. Her stories feature morally gray men, stabby heroines, and brutal choices with consequences that bite.
She is the award-winning author of the completed Prophecies of Angels and Demons series and the Deadly Fae saga. She is currently expanding her interconnected universes with new fae stories, villain-led retellings, and gothic standalones that lean darker, sharper, and more emotionally ruinous.
When she can, she escapes to a cozy mountain cottage to write, fueled by hot chocolate and spite, and she believes there is only one rule that truly matters: love fiercely.
Connect with Cassandra through her website or on social media.
She is the award-winning author of the completed Prophecies of Angels and Demons series and the Deadly Fae saga. She is currently expanding her interconnected universes with new fae stories, villain-led retellings, and gothic standalones that lean darker, sharper, and more emotionally ruinous.
When she can, she escapes to a cozy mountain cottage to write, fueled by hot chocolate and spite, and she believes there is only one rule that truly matters: love fiercely.
Connect with Cassandra through her website or on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
February 23, 2024
Allie made a deal with the angels after her death--they let her live, she serves them for 6 years as a demon hunter. Approaching the end of her service, Allie remembers she was left a house in the south by her grandfather and decides to take a look at her new home. The problem? It's currently inhabited by a demon, and she's learning her grandfather may not be the man she thought he was. In fact, SHE may not be who she thought she was. Working against a deadline set by her handler, Gabriel, Allie must work to discover the mysteries surrounding her house, her family, and herself.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It's such an interesting take on the angels/demons trope with a touch of magic and vampires. I loved the depictions of the angels--Gabriel being an absolute tool really worked for me. There were areas I thought needed a tad bit more editing, and moments where Allie's behavior seemed weird and didn't exactly fit. Even after the plot twist, I couldn't really understand some of her behavior in a few moments. Sometimes it felt as though a scene had been edited down and we're just left with her reaction, but because we missed some extra dialogue or action, it didn't really make sense. I really would have loved to see more conflict with Gabriel as well,but given the progression of the story it makes sense it wasn't there--I hope that comes into play for the next book! Overall, it was an enjoyable read with some very interesting takes that I haven't seen before. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It's such an interesting take on the angels/demons trope with a touch of magic and vampires. I loved the depictions of the angels--Gabriel being an absolute tool really worked for me. There were areas I thought needed a tad bit more editing, and moments where Allie's behavior seemed weird and didn't exactly fit. Even after the plot twist, I couldn't really understand some of her behavior in a few moments. Sometimes it felt as though a scene had been edited down and we're just left with her reaction, but because we missed some extra dialogue or action, it didn't really make sense. I really would have loved to see more conflict with Gabriel as well,but given the progression of the story it makes sense it wasn't there--I hope that comes into play for the next book! Overall, it was an enjoyable read with some very interesting takes that I haven't seen before. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
August 24, 2023
I loved this book SO much. Thank you RR Book Tours & Cassandra Aston for sending me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is an urban fantasy with a blurb about angels & demons - but this book is about way more than just that. Allie has been working for the angels slaying demons for the past 6 years, but her duty to them is coming to a close, which means she'll face serious complications that will affect her life.
The book takes place primarily at Allie's old family estate - a huge house that's been abandoned for years. I'm a sucker for a good abandoned mansion story. Here Allie meets Simon - Simon is caring, attentive, and knows everything about Allie's family. Over the course of the book, Simon tells Allie the story of her family legacy -- a legacy full of secrets, twists & turns, & a lot of unanswered questions. Allie & Simon need to solve the mystery before her time with the angels is over.
This was so easy to read & I was hooked from the first chapter. I didn't see the twist coming at all - & I'm really interested to find out what happens in the next book! The ending took me on an emotional rollercoaster & I'm curious to see what's next.
This is an urban fantasy with a blurb about angels & demons - but this book is about way more than just that. Allie has been working for the angels slaying demons for the past 6 years, but her duty to them is coming to a close, which means she'll face serious complications that will affect her life.
The book takes place primarily at Allie's old family estate - a huge house that's been abandoned for years. I'm a sucker for a good abandoned mansion story. Here Allie meets Simon - Simon is caring, attentive, and knows everything about Allie's family. Over the course of the book, Simon tells Allie the story of her family legacy -- a legacy full of secrets, twists & turns, & a lot of unanswered questions. Allie & Simon need to solve the mystery before her time with the angels is over.
This was so easy to read & I was hooked from the first chapter. I didn't see the twist coming at all - & I'm really interested to find out what happens in the next book! The ending took me on an emotional rollercoaster & I'm curious to see what's next.
June 16, 2023
I want to preface my review by stating that I initially had very mixed feelings about this novel as I started to read it. I will get into those but the way this story unfurls was so well thought out, so compelling, and so unique that I, ultimately, just had to bump it to 4 stars! It is absolutely WORTH IT!
To start, the premise of the story is what gripped me. A demon slayer, Allie, while on the cusp of returning to her mortal life after her service to the angels, develops a connection to a mysterious man. This man wields a brand of magic that the angels do not approve of and they seek to end him. Allie grapples with her growing connection to this man and whether she can trust him. Simultaneously she begins to unravel secrets in her family history that change everything but she knows her time with the angels is coming to an end in less than a month. Can she unravel the dark secrets that are brought to light? Can she save this mysterious man? It has magic, angels, demons, dark secrets, and so much more!
This book had me turning pages, desperate to see what would happen next or what we would uncover. However, my biggest qualm with the story was the pacing at certain points. The stakes are high and the approaching deadline would seem to evoke a sense of urgency from Allie. Yet, at times, certain scenes and mundane details of Allie’s daily life were drawn out, almost painfully for me. I kept wondering why Allie didn’t seem to feel the sense of urgency that I felt as a reader. As such, there was some disconnect there for me. (This is explained in a certain sense but it didn’t come through clearly for me as I was reading. As a result, it slowed the beginning of the story down in certain parts and these portions didn’t feel as natural or authentic.)
In relation to this, there were certain points in the story that the writing style didn’t mesh with my usual taste. Some of the dialogue from Allie didn’t read in the voice of a young woman but, rather, almost in an adolescent voice. This also created a bit of disconnect for me at certain points. I want to stress that this was definitely a personal taste issue and not at all a jab at the author. It also was not a consistent issue for me. As you will see upon reading, Cassandra is wildly talented in her story telling. More so than not, I really did enjoy how this story was written. The story itself is so worth maybe a handful of less authentic scenes. By the end of this book, it read like butter to me and I had no issues with the dialogue or writing.
As I said, these were issues I personally noticed more heavily in the first portion of the book. As I read on, those issues definitely faded into the background due to how gripping this story is. It is so, so worth the read. The plot twist had me audibly gasping! I’m pretty sure that I inhaled the last 100 pages! It really is such an imaginative, unique, and completely unexpected story. It is compelling for so many more reasons than it is not. The ending will have you BEGGING for the next book. It’s so hard to write this without spoilers but let me just say - you don’t see that ending coming! So intricate. So palpable. Just stunning. It’s a story you owe to yourself to experience!
Please note: this is recommended for an 18+ audience as there are some sexual situations and graphic descriptions.
To start, the premise of the story is what gripped me. A demon slayer, Allie, while on the cusp of returning to her mortal life after her service to the angels, develops a connection to a mysterious man. This man wields a brand of magic that the angels do not approve of and they seek to end him. Allie grapples with her growing connection to this man and whether she can trust him. Simultaneously she begins to unravel secrets in her family history that change everything but she knows her time with the angels is coming to an end in less than a month. Can she unravel the dark secrets that are brought to light? Can she save this mysterious man? It has magic, angels, demons, dark secrets, and so much more!
This book had me turning pages, desperate to see what would happen next or what we would uncover. However, my biggest qualm with the story was the pacing at certain points. The stakes are high and the approaching deadline would seem to evoke a sense of urgency from Allie. Yet, at times, certain scenes and mundane details of Allie’s daily life were drawn out, almost painfully for me. I kept wondering why Allie didn’t seem to feel the sense of urgency that I felt as a reader. As such, there was some disconnect there for me. (This is explained in a certain sense but it didn’t come through clearly for me as I was reading. As a result, it slowed the beginning of the story down in certain parts and these portions didn’t feel as natural or authentic.)
In relation to this, there were certain points in the story that the writing style didn’t mesh with my usual taste. Some of the dialogue from Allie didn’t read in the voice of a young woman but, rather, almost in an adolescent voice. This also created a bit of disconnect for me at certain points. I want to stress that this was definitely a personal taste issue and not at all a jab at the author. It also was not a consistent issue for me. As you will see upon reading, Cassandra is wildly talented in her story telling. More so than not, I really did enjoy how this story was written. The story itself is so worth maybe a handful of less authentic scenes. By the end of this book, it read like butter to me and I had no issues with the dialogue or writing.
As I said, these were issues I personally noticed more heavily in the first portion of the book. As I read on, those issues definitely faded into the background due to how gripping this story is. It is so, so worth the read. The plot twist had me audibly gasping! I’m pretty sure that I inhaled the last 100 pages! It really is such an imaginative, unique, and completely unexpected story. It is compelling for so many more reasons than it is not. The ending will have you BEGGING for the next book. It’s so hard to write this without spoilers but let me just say - you don’t see that ending coming! So intricate. So palpable. Just stunning. It’s a story you owe to yourself to experience!
Please note: this is recommended for an 18+ audience as there are some sexual situations and graphic descriptions.
September 6, 2023
DNF 25% through. I wanted to love this but couldn’t get past the juvenile main character. The elements were all there for good makings but this was a slow start for me. The FMC had me cringing. It’s understandable she would be socially awkward but she lacked any kind of maturity. One scene depicts her running sticky donut fingers along her wall. At 23 years old!!
August 9, 2023
I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. It has all the fixings for a book I'd enjoy.
- Family Mystery
- Romance
- Slow Burn
- Demons
Overall, while I think this was a good book, I probably wouldn't read it again. I loved the dynamic between Allie and Simon, they're so cute. I loved Allie as a character as well, she's completely badass and loveable. I think we all want to have a bit of Allie in our personalities. I loved how the "haunted house" kind of atmosphere played into it as well (also being a lover of old house style horror and mystery)
I wasn't a huge fan of how the story was told. In the first quarter of the book a lot of the backstory is told through dialogue with Simon. Although it's written very descriptively and doesn't read as authentic dialogue if that makes sense? It didn't feel natural and it felt kind of monotonous. The latter half of the book was better, but still didn't whisk me away.
The overall plot of this book (I won't say because of spoilers) wasn't one that was made for me either. I'm not a fan of the trope. Had I known this going into the book, I would have been more prepared. It was a little let down?
Overall, I think this is a great story for a certain type of person. Unfortunately at this time, that person wasn't me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free Ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair, honest review.
- Family Mystery
- Romance
- Slow Burn
- Demons
Overall, while I think this was a good book, I probably wouldn't read it again. I loved the dynamic between Allie and Simon, they're so cute. I loved Allie as a character as well, she's completely badass and loveable. I think we all want to have a bit of Allie in our personalities. I loved how the "haunted house" kind of atmosphere played into it as well (also being a lover of old house style horror and mystery)
I wasn't a huge fan of how the story was told. In the first quarter of the book a lot of the backstory is told through dialogue with Simon. Although it's written very descriptively and doesn't read as authentic dialogue if that makes sense? It didn't feel natural and it felt kind of monotonous. The latter half of the book was better, but still didn't whisk me away.
The overall plot of this book (I won't say because of spoilers) wasn't one that was made for me either. I'm not a fan of the trope. Had I known this going into the book, I would have been more prepared. It was a little let down?
Overall, I think this is a great story for a certain type of person. Unfortunately at this time, that person wasn't me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free Ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair, honest review.
August 1, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
DNF at 25% bc holy CRAP I cannot take it anymore. There were so many unnecessary details in this book that felt like filler:
1. Description of character playing with dust motes. A whole. Paragraph.
2. Describing every single detail in every single room in the setting she’s in (there’s 10 btw)
3. Describing every single act of literally anything. Breathing, eating, getting dressed, taking a shower, literally EVERYTHING. It’s like Tolkien but much, much worse.
Our MC is supposed to be 22 years of age and she acts no better than a 16-year-old. She gets upset over the most teenage things I’ve ever seen and listen, did she have it rough in life? Yes. But the things she’s been through should’ve made her a tough as nails type girly and that is NOT what we get here.
This book also reads super YA. I’m aware that it’s 18+ for sexual content but Jesus I’ve read children’s novels that were written better. All in all I cannot bring myself to finish this book.
DNF at 25% bc holy CRAP I cannot take it anymore. There were so many unnecessary details in this book that felt like filler:
1. Description of character playing with dust motes. A whole. Paragraph.
2. Describing every single detail in every single room in the setting she’s in (there’s 10 btw)
3. Describing every single act of literally anything. Breathing, eating, getting dressed, taking a shower, literally EVERYTHING. It’s like Tolkien but much, much worse.
Our MC is supposed to be 22 years of age and she acts no better than a 16-year-old. She gets upset over the most teenage things I’ve ever seen and listen, did she have it rough in life? Yes. But the things she’s been through should’ve made her a tough as nails type girly and that is NOT what we get here.
This book also reads super YA. I’m aware that it’s 18+ for sexual content but Jesus I’ve read children’s novels that were written better. All in all I cannot bring myself to finish this book.
December 17, 2023
I really liked this book
This book is very unique. I love how it drops bombshells on you consistently. My only struggle was I felt the book started out slow. Although I understand its purpose was a must for world building.
This Fantasy Romance will have your head spinning from the unpredictable twists, and turns it takes.
The romance is a slow burn, and very mild spice.
The mystery of the past, and current time weave together to make an enchanting experience.
The story is built with complexity that can out do many fantasy romances.
This book is very unique. I love how it drops bombshells on you consistently. My only struggle was I felt the book started out slow. Although I understand its purpose was a must for world building.
This Fantasy Romance will have your head spinning from the unpredictable twists, and turns it takes.
The romance is a slow burn, and very mild spice.
The mystery of the past, and current time weave together to make an enchanting experience.
The story is built with complexity that can out do many fantasy romances.
October 11, 2024
This was amazing! The twists and turns, the plot, the story and world building that was done is phenomenal!! You have got to check out this story of Allie who was murdered by demons but resurrected by the Angel Gabriel to work in contract for 6 years… killing demons. One day, someone or something breaks into her apartment after one of her shifts and she attacks. It isn’t killed and she discovered that this being dropped some sort of amulet. This takes her on an incredible journey of self discovery, kinship and magic!1
May 1, 2024
3.5 — a lot to unpack here
August 24, 2023
I received Grave Secrets in return for an honest review from the author.
Allie has a month before her time as a reash her six year service time is coming to an end she has a month left before she has her mind wiped and is forced back to the human world. Deciding to figure out her plans for the future she sets off for the home she was left after her aunt passed away. Little did she know upon arriving in Bath that her life would change forever.
I love Allie she's been a hunter for the Angels fighting the demons that walk the earth she and she kicks butt doing it. I loved her first experience with chicken and waffles because I felt the same was she did. I loved Simon he's not perfect but he's a good guy trapped in a screwed up situation. I loved the chemistry between Allie and Simon they have this sweet connection.
Grave secrets is a fast paced action packed, whirlwind story that captures the heart as well as the imagination. The characters are easy to connect with you can't help falling in love and getting invested in the story. I really enjoyed the world building and the mystery involving Allie's family it was fascinating watching it unfold.
The author did a beautiful job creating a unique suspense fantasy with just enough romance to not overshadow the intriguing story. I loved everything about Grave Secrets it's a chunky book and sometimes that feels overwhelming but I didn't even notice that because I couldn't put it down and ended up losing all track of time. If you like a mystery with a little romance into the fantasy world Grave Secrets is your book. I loved every page and look forward to seeing what the next book entails!
Allie has a month before her time as a reash her six year service time is coming to an end she has a month left before she has her mind wiped and is forced back to the human world. Deciding to figure out her plans for the future she sets off for the home she was left after her aunt passed away. Little did she know upon arriving in Bath that her life would change forever.
I love Allie she's been a hunter for the Angels fighting the demons that walk the earth she and she kicks butt doing it. I loved her first experience with chicken and waffles because I felt the same was she did. I loved Simon he's not perfect but he's a good guy trapped in a screwed up situation. I loved the chemistry between Allie and Simon they have this sweet connection.
Grave secrets is a fast paced action packed, whirlwind story that captures the heart as well as the imagination. The characters are easy to connect with you can't help falling in love and getting invested in the story. I really enjoyed the world building and the mystery involving Allie's family it was fascinating watching it unfold.
The author did a beautiful job creating a unique suspense fantasy with just enough romance to not overshadow the intriguing story. I loved everything about Grave Secrets it's a chunky book and sometimes that feels overwhelming but I didn't even notice that because I couldn't put it down and ended up losing all track of time. If you like a mystery with a little romance into the fantasy world Grave Secrets is your book. I loved every page and look forward to seeing what the next book entails!
May 29, 2023
I went back and forth a lot on what to rate this book. Up until about the 70% it was 4 or 5. After that I struggled on if it would actually be a 3 for me. I read this as an arc and while I still wanted to rep the book and author I also wanted to be honest. Because while I enjoyed it and was intrigued by the story, odds are I wouldn’t die to read it again.
I don’t know how to explain myself without spoilers, because I did enjoy majority of the book, and I would recommend it. It is intriguing, unique, and well written.
So let me start the spoilers off by saying, I don’t personally care for reincarnation, it’s not a trope that was made for me. There are occasions that I will read and enjoy reincarnation, but I won’t ever seek it out. Starting Grave Secrets I had no idea it was reincarnation. You hear about the line of women in the MC’s (Allie) family that have all been taken care of by the same guy (Simon) and he tells her how he met her great great grandma and you can tell by the description that they look a lot alike and at this point I’m getting The Vampire Diary Elena/Katherine vibes and was thinking it was just a doppelgänger thing. It didn’t take long to realize this was not the case.
So we go on the journey of Allie SLOWLY figuring this out as well, she spends her days exploring and investigating a family mansion, and her nights hearing stories from Simon. The more time she spends with Simon the closer they become, but he was in love with her grandma so she tries to keep her distance but there’s no denying the chemistry
We eventually find out why Allie and her great great grandma (Rebecca) look so much alike, and this is also where I lost the strong interest I had in the story.
HEAVY SPOILERS PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Rebecca has been giving birth to herself over and over throughout the years, so Allie is just the most recent version of herself that she’s given birth to. (While this is an interesting and unique way to do reincarnation I just wasn’t into it). Allie realizes this and essentially becomes Rebecca again. And I find Rebecca to be quite insufferable, I imagine she was meant to be, but I just had a hard time rooting for her, even though she is essentially Allie.
But then her memories are taken again and she believes herself to just be Allie again and thinks she has just moved into the mansion after meeting her lawyer, Simon.
Allie as a main character is strong and a fighter to the end, the dynamic between her and Simon is *chefs kiss* I hope in the next book we get more of her as Allie
If you’re wondering if I’ll read the next book, the answer is yes, I will.
I don’t know how to explain myself without spoilers, because I did enjoy majority of the book, and I would recommend it. It is intriguing, unique, and well written.
So let me start the spoilers off by saying, I don’t personally care for reincarnation, it’s not a trope that was made for me. There are occasions that I will read and enjoy reincarnation, but I won’t ever seek it out. Starting Grave Secrets I had no idea it was reincarnation. You hear about the line of women in the MC’s (Allie) family that have all been taken care of by the same guy (Simon) and he tells her how he met her great great grandma and you can tell by the description that they look a lot alike and at this point I’m getting The Vampire Diary Elena/Katherine vibes and was thinking it was just a doppelgänger thing. It didn’t take long to realize this was not the case.
So we go on the journey of Allie SLOWLY figuring this out as well, she spends her days exploring and investigating a family mansion, and her nights hearing stories from Simon. The more time she spends with Simon the closer they become, but he was in love with her grandma so she tries to keep her distance but there’s no denying the chemistry
We eventually find out why Allie and her great great grandma (Rebecca) look so much alike, and this is also where I lost the strong interest I had in the story.
HEAVY SPOILERS PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Rebecca has been giving birth to herself over and over throughout the years, so Allie is just the most recent version of herself that she’s given birth to. (While this is an interesting and unique way to do reincarnation I just wasn’t into it). Allie realizes this and essentially becomes Rebecca again. And I find Rebecca to be quite insufferable, I imagine she was meant to be, but I just had a hard time rooting for her, even though she is essentially Allie.
But then her memories are taken again and she believes herself to just be Allie again and thinks she has just moved into the mansion after meeting her lawyer, Simon.
Allie as a main character is strong and a fighter to the end, the dynamic between her and Simon is *chefs kiss* I hope in the next book we get more of her as Allie
If you’re wondering if I’ll read the next book, the answer is yes, I will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2024
Soo Allie made a deal with the Angels to evade death. Now she gets to fight demons nightly. She’s basically a super hero. As this deal comes to an end Allie realizes she’s got to find a way to provide for herself. I mean demon hunting doesn’t really allow for a day job 🤷♀️. Anyways it’s about time to dig into that mansion an old dead relative left her a couple of states over…
I absolutely loved this. I’m not a thriller reader (keep that in mind) so this had me scared a couple of times 🫣. I really admire the way Cassandra writes and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot is mostly unpredictable! I still have so many questions.
I think overall Allie’s and Simon’s interactions felt a bit forced. Maybe it’s that I didn’t quite feel their connection. In Simon’s prequel… I really didn’t buy into his connect with Rebecca either. But this feels more plot driven than romance driven which saves it for me.
For context I read this after reading the two prequels Light and Firefly. Honestly I think it was perfect because I got so much context going into Grave Secrets.
Cheers! 🥂
I absolutely loved this. I’m not a thriller reader (keep that in mind) so this had me scared a couple of times 🫣. I really admire the way Cassandra writes and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot is mostly unpredictable! I still have so many questions.
I think overall Allie’s and Simon’s interactions felt a bit forced. Maybe it’s that I didn’t quite feel their connection. In Simon’s prequel… I really didn’t buy into his connect with Rebecca either. But this feels more plot driven than romance driven which saves it for me.
For context I read this after reading the two prequels Light and Firefly. Honestly I think it was perfect because I got so much context going into Grave Secrets.
Cheers! 🥂
August 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this YA Fantasy , it’s full of mystery, suspense , tension, drama and romance. I adored the chemistry and pure tension between Allie and Simon, it’s really well done, definitely keeps you on your toes. It’s full of The twists and turns, it was a bit slower paced at the beginning, but that’s to be expected when you’re setting everything up and the world building is fantastic.
If you’re looking for a great read, full of Fantasy, Demons, Angels, Reincarnation, Zombies, murder, mystery, magic, secrets and so much more,it really is a thrilling read, then look no further as like me you’ll be eagerly anticipating the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you’re looking for a great read, full of Fantasy, Demons, Angels, Reincarnation, Zombies, murder, mystery, magic, secrets and so much more,it really is a thrilling read, then look no further as like me you’ll be eagerly anticipating the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2023
Corrected eARC provided by NetGalley for my review.
I can’t read this. The main character is an idiot. I made it to Simon telling his story of how he came to be, which definitely should have been handled in a flashback or a chapter from Simon’s perspective not as a very long, detailed conversation. MC got jealous of some long dead ancestor and then claimed in the 30s she would beat up her abusive husband and get him arrested like that was a real option.
I even picked it back up and tried again, but this is just bad. DNF at 20%
Why are these books SO BAD?!
I can’t read this. The main character is an idiot. I made it to Simon telling his story of how he came to be, which definitely should have been handled in a flashback or a chapter from Simon’s perspective not as a very long, detailed conversation. MC got jealous of some long dead ancestor and then claimed in the 30s she would beat up her abusive husband and get him arrested like that was a real option.
I even picked it back up and tried again, but this is just bad. DNF at 20%
Why are these books SO BAD?!
May 28, 2023
“𝘼𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙨𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣…”
Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston is such a different story from anything I have read before. It is laced with so much mystery, and the FMC was just as curious as I was to where the story was going.
It’s written in almost an interview style format, but yet not at the same time because there is so much going on outside of her learning about her family. It kept me engaged and not wanting to put it down.
Allie is very relatable, and speaks and thinks as any 23 year old’s would, making you relate to her on a personal level.
Without giving *too much* away, because this is very hard to write without spoilers. The story surrounding Allie’s family, who she is, the angels, the demons, was all so well written. At one point I felt like I had a red string board up in my mind linking it all together. Right when I thought I had it, BAM Cassandra hits me with a killer plot twist.
I cannot wait for book 2 because the ending had me mind blown.🙌🏼
‼️‼️‼️‼️SPOILERS BELOW‼️‼️‼️‼️
I had to write then rest of my review WITH spoilers because OMG. Simon and Allie were EVERYTHING. I loved that Simon helped her through every stage after he found her, to help her remember who she was. I also truly truly loved that Rebecca tries to embrace each of her lives when she returns.
The beginning of the book gave me huge Supernatural (tv show) vibes, but delivered SO much more and quickly!
I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters brought in, Elizabeth was the ✨perfect✨ villain, and Gabriel coming in and saving the day, completely defying all rules? I DID NOT see that coming! I cannot wait to see what follows in the next book!
Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston is such a different story from anything I have read before. It is laced with so much mystery, and the FMC was just as curious as I was to where the story was going.
It’s written in almost an interview style format, but yet not at the same time because there is so much going on outside of her learning about her family. It kept me engaged and not wanting to put it down.
Allie is very relatable, and speaks and thinks as any 23 year old’s would, making you relate to her on a personal level.
Without giving *too much* away, because this is very hard to write without spoilers. The story surrounding Allie’s family, who she is, the angels, the demons, was all so well written. At one point I felt like I had a red string board up in my mind linking it all together. Right when I thought I had it, BAM Cassandra hits me with a killer plot twist.
I cannot wait for book 2 because the ending had me mind blown.🙌🏼
‼️‼️‼️‼️SPOILERS BELOW‼️‼️‼️‼️
I had to write then rest of my review WITH spoilers because OMG. Simon and Allie were EVERYTHING. I loved that Simon helped her through every stage after he found her, to help her remember who she was. I also truly truly loved that Rebecca tries to embrace each of her lives when she returns.
The beginning of the book gave me huge Supernatural (tv show) vibes, but delivered SO much more and quickly!
I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters brought in, Elizabeth was the ✨perfect✨ villain, and Gabriel coming in and saving the day, completely defying all rules? I DID NOT see that coming! I cannot wait to see what follows in the next book!
December 20, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I have very mixed feelings about this book .The blurb was interesting enough for me to start the book with full of excitement then in the middle it felt little flat for me and then OMG the twists and turns and the secrets which were revealed in the further part of the book made me gasp and convinced me to give it 4.5⭐..It was worth it. Each and every moment of the book was worth it.
The author's writing was easy & understandable, it was easy to connect with characters and their feelings but some parts were bit hard to understand(kind of confusing) and the monotonous tone of Simon while narrating past stories didn't felt authentic or natural. But I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery revolving around Graves family and the world building involving magic system was unique and fascinating.
It was an interesting read and enjoyable read full of suspense. Do give it a try if you love fantasy with suspense plus romance and unique magic system.
I have very mixed feelings about this book .The blurb was interesting enough for me to start the book with full of excitement then in the middle it felt little flat for me and then OMG the twists and turns and the secrets which were revealed in the further part of the book made me gasp and convinced me to give it 4.5⭐..It was worth it. Each and every moment of the book was worth it.
The author's writing was easy & understandable, it was easy to connect with characters and their feelings but some parts were bit hard to understand(kind of confusing) and the monotonous tone of Simon while narrating past stories didn't felt authentic or natural. But I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery revolving around Graves family and the world building involving magic system was unique and fascinating.
It was an interesting read and enjoyable read full of suspense. Do give it a try if you love fantasy with suspense plus romance and unique magic system.
January 19, 2024
I was initially drawn to this book by the cover and the summary of it. As someone who loves reading books dealing with angels and demons, I jumped at the chance to read this one.
And, I’m so glad I did.
Within the first few chapters, I was hooked. Reading about Allie’s life bit by bit, learning about her, her family, and the multitude of secrets within this family was something else. I never imagined half the things that kept coming up.
This book not only made me giggle and smile at parts, but it also broke my heart, and infuriated me at times. Seeing everything Allie has gone through is heart breaking. But, I loved her. She was an absolute force to be reckoned with, and she’s the hero of her own story, which I absolutely loved.
Seeing the secrets unfold, and Allie learning more and more about it all had me turning the pages so fast, I couldn’t read it quick enough.
I’m so grateful I got to read this ARC, because now I’m hooked and onto the book two ARC. 👏🏻
And, I’m so glad I did.
Within the first few chapters, I was hooked. Reading about Allie’s life bit by bit, learning about her, her family, and the multitude of secrets within this family was something else. I never imagined half the things that kept coming up.
This book not only made me giggle and smile at parts, but it also broke my heart, and infuriated me at times. Seeing everything Allie has gone through is heart breaking. But, I loved her. She was an absolute force to be reckoned with, and she’s the hero of her own story, which I absolutely loved.
Seeing the secrets unfold, and Allie learning more and more about it all had me turning the pages so fast, I couldn’t read it quick enough.
I’m so grateful I got to read this ARC, because now I’m hooked and onto the book two ARC. 👏🏻
July 16, 2023
This book was really riveting in the supernatural aspect and I loved the tidbit of romance between Allie and Simon that we got, their chemistry was undeniable and I loved their dynamic.
The descriptive and in-depth writing style of the author made this a really interesting and captivating read and made it so easy to picture the author’s idea!
I was a little lost on the reincarnation plotline toward the ending of the book but other than that it was easy to keep up with and incredibly fascinating. I love Allie’s character but the plot twist with Rebecca kind of lost me lol , apart from that though, a great book and you can tell the idea was so well thought out and developed 😁 Just very fast paced!!
The descriptive and in-depth writing style of the author made this a really interesting and captivating read and made it so easy to picture the author’s idea!
I was a little lost on the reincarnation plotline toward the ending of the book but other than that it was easy to keep up with and incredibly fascinating. I love Allie’s character but the plot twist with Rebecca kind of lost me lol , apart from that though, a great book and you can tell the idea was so well thought out and developed 😁 Just very fast paced!!
July 25, 2023
A Promising Start to an Intriguing Series
Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston is a great introduction to a new fantasy series with a distinctive twist. The story's unique universe is filled with hidden secrets that captivate you from the start! Although it is set in a fantasy world, the world itself seems pretty easy to understand and I really enjoyed the eeriness the book conveyed.
Aston weaves mystery, suspense, and magic all into one and I must admit it made this book a quick page turner. The compelling plot and captivating characters really kept me fully invested in the story.
Though there are some small issues with dialogue clarity, the characters' depth shines through, leaving a lasting impression in my opinion.
The pacing strikes a good balance between action and introspection and the book leaves threads unresolved which seemed like the perfect way to set the stage for the next installment in the series.
In conclusion, Grave Secrets is a strong debut novel and an excellent starting point for a fantasy series. Fantasy enthusiasts seeking a fresh take on the genre will be entertained.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston is a great introduction to a new fantasy series with a distinctive twist. The story's unique universe is filled with hidden secrets that captivate you from the start! Although it is set in a fantasy world, the world itself seems pretty easy to understand and I really enjoyed the eeriness the book conveyed.
Aston weaves mystery, suspense, and magic all into one and I must admit it made this book a quick page turner. The compelling plot and captivating characters really kept me fully invested in the story.
Though there are some small issues with dialogue clarity, the characters' depth shines through, leaving a lasting impression in my opinion.
The pacing strikes a good balance between action and introspection and the book leaves threads unresolved which seemed like the perfect way to set the stage for the next installment in the series.
In conclusion, Grave Secrets is a strong debut novel and an excellent starting point for a fantasy series. Fantasy enthusiasts seeking a fresh take on the genre will be entertained.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 6, 2023
Loved the concept of her working with the angels to vanquish demons, such a good idea.
She’s about to get her memory swiped bc her term in helping the angels is over, however mystery dude Simon comes in her life and completely changes everything.
She’s learned way too much about demons and her family history, and let me tell you; the amount of twists and turns I was shocked.
And the ENDING!!! I need the second book right.
She’s about to get her memory swiped bc her term in helping the angels is over, however mystery dude Simon comes in her life and completely changes everything.
She’s learned way too much about demons and her family history, and let me tell you; the amount of twists and turns I was shocked.
And the ENDING!!! I need the second book right.
August 10, 2023
For an ebook I had my doubts. But I would recommend this book for those who love magic, love and a mystery all tied into one.
May 20, 2023
4.5 stars rounding up to 5.
This book was throughly enjoyable from start to finish. It is a urban fantasy with such imaginative writing that brings the word to life around you and complex characters that keep you wrapped up in their story. It’s all dark secrets and hidden stories and you want nothing more than to find their meaning. The story filled with plot twists and turns that keep you fully invested. I can’t wait to see where this story takes is next!
This book was throughly enjoyable from start to finish. It is a urban fantasy with such imaginative writing that brings the word to life around you and complex characters that keep you wrapped up in their story. It’s all dark secrets and hidden stories and you want nothing more than to find their meaning. The story filled with plot twists and turns that keep you fully invested. I can’t wait to see where this story takes is next!
September 30, 2023
Interesting premise, less than satisfactory execution.
When seventeen year old Allie Graves makes a deal to save her life that will turn her into a Reash - a once human contracted to fight demons for the angels - she doesn't stop to think about the potential consequences. Now, six years later, her term of service is almost up and when the clock runs out her memory will be wiped. To top it all off, she's met a boy who seems to know a lot about the family she has never really known and the mysterious mansion that was left to her by her uncle after his death.
Now she has less than a month to figure out what sort of secret her family has been hiding and how to leave herself clues so she can put some semblance of a life back together after her contract is up. What could possibly go wrong?
I really wanted to love this book. Deals with angels turning a young woman into a demon killing machine? Check. Weird creepy family with an even weirder creepy mansion? Check check. Unfortunately, I could not get into this story. The amount of unnecessary detail in the way the story is told is overwhelming. Honestly, it's a little ironic as Allie complains of the very same thing when Simon is telling her his/her family's story.
At 520 pages, I think this story could have been edited down a little further to streamline the action and make this a significantly shorter read. The style of the writing seems to target a fairly juvenile audience and I find it hard to see a teenager sitting through all 520 pages. (Though other reviews have mentioned spice so the tone of the book may not actually match up with the content. From where I stopped, the only "spice" that had happened was a kiss.)
I was intrigued by the plot and wanted to finish this and see how the story resolved, but I just found myself struggling to stay immersed. What I read seemed fairly repetitive and roughly the same exact thing happened during each day in the novel. The information the protagonists were learning did vary from day to day but even that was not enough to break me out of the cyclical feeling that this was giving me.
I would love to see the author consider a revamp of this novel in the future. I think it has potential as a whole, but this just wasn't it for me.
Thank you very much for the chance to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
When seventeen year old Allie Graves makes a deal to save her life that will turn her into a Reash - a once human contracted to fight demons for the angels - she doesn't stop to think about the potential consequences. Now, six years later, her term of service is almost up and when the clock runs out her memory will be wiped. To top it all off, she's met a boy who seems to know a lot about the family she has never really known and the mysterious mansion that was left to her by her uncle after his death.
Now she has less than a month to figure out what sort of secret her family has been hiding and how to leave herself clues so she can put some semblance of a life back together after her contract is up. What could possibly go wrong?
I really wanted to love this book. Deals with angels turning a young woman into a demon killing machine? Check. Weird creepy family with an even weirder creepy mansion? Check check. Unfortunately, I could not get into this story. The amount of unnecessary detail in the way the story is told is overwhelming. Honestly, it's a little ironic as Allie complains of the very same thing when Simon is telling her his/her family's story.
At 520 pages, I think this story could have been edited down a little further to streamline the action and make this a significantly shorter read. The style of the writing seems to target a fairly juvenile audience and I find it hard to see a teenager sitting through all 520 pages. (Though other reviews have mentioned spice so the tone of the book may not actually match up with the content. From where I stopped, the only "spice" that had happened was a kiss.)
I was intrigued by the plot and wanted to finish this and see how the story resolved, but I just found myself struggling to stay immersed. What I read seemed fairly repetitive and roughly the same exact thing happened during each day in the novel. The information the protagonists were learning did vary from day to day but even that was not enough to break me out of the cyclical feeling that this was giving me.
I would love to see the author consider a revamp of this novel in the future. I think it has potential as a whole, but this just wasn't it for me.
Thank you very much for the chance to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
February 18, 2024
This is an urban fantasy romance filled with magic, family secrets, and unexpected twists.
Allie Graves grapples with the consequences of a life-altering deal she made six years ago to save her own life in exchange for service to the angels. As her period of service comes to an end, she decides to explore the history of her family. The central plot revolves around Allie's quest to uncover a family secret within a limited timeframe, all while navigating the challenges of her interactions with angels and a mysterious man with a perilous fate. The blend of a supernatural premise and family dynamics is a fascinating touch.
Despite the interesting premise, the whole demon hunter for angels aspect doesn't really play a central role in this story. I'm not really sure why it existed other than being interesting - maybe it will play a bigger role in the future but I kind of doubt it? It's not a criticism, just a source of mild confusion on my part.
I ADORED Allie and Simon's banter and relationship. Simon's history was fascinating, in particular. Allie's naivety, possibly influenced by her lack of education while in the angel's service, adds authenticity to her character, making her more relatable. The world-building proves to be a strong element, creating a captivating backdrop for these unfolding events. I was surprised at the biggest twist, though I was glad to have things reassert themselves by the end. Avoiding spoilers here.
This is a super fun and easy-to-read experience, capturing the essence of urban fantasy with its intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and a touch of romance.
Allie Graves grapples with the consequences of a life-altering deal she made six years ago to save her own life in exchange for service to the angels. As her period of service comes to an end, she decides to explore the history of her family. The central plot revolves around Allie's quest to uncover a family secret within a limited timeframe, all while navigating the challenges of her interactions with angels and a mysterious man with a perilous fate. The blend of a supernatural premise and family dynamics is a fascinating touch.
Despite the interesting premise, the whole demon hunter for angels aspect doesn't really play a central role in this story. I'm not really sure why it existed other than being interesting - maybe it will play a bigger role in the future but I kind of doubt it? It's not a criticism, just a source of mild confusion on my part.
I ADORED Allie and Simon's banter and relationship. Simon's history was fascinating, in particular. Allie's naivety, possibly influenced by her lack of education while in the angel's service, adds authenticity to her character, making her more relatable. The world-building proves to be a strong element, creating a captivating backdrop for these unfolding events. I was surprised at the biggest twist, though I was glad to have things reassert themselves by the end. Avoiding spoilers here.
This is a super fun and easy-to-read experience, capturing the essence of urban fantasy with its intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and a touch of romance.
July 1, 2023
This is your book if you like:
*Demon killer FMC
*Demon-like MMC
*Angels, demons and other creatures
*Different planes of existence
*Family mystery
*Lost memories
*Elemental magic
*Super slow burn
This book was a nice paranormal fantasy with a side of romance. The worldbuilding was interesting with angels, demons and different planes of existence. The FMC and the MMC started as enemies, but it soon developed into reluctant allies. The mysteries surrounding the FMC family where quite complex, but the constant use of flashbacks was a bit repetitive.
The book started strong, with the FMC in the last leg of her life as a demon hunter whose memories will be erased be angels once her time is up. She then discovers she's got a bog old manor and the MMC, whom she's tried to kill thinking he was a demon, takes her there. The middle of the book dragged a bit as they set to uncover the mysteries surrounding both main characters. Their relationship develops slowly and I appreciate the efforts to get them bantering while they investigate, but their interactions where not my favourite. Much of the story on this part centers on the MMC recalling parts of his long life and the FMC seeing flashbacks brought about by magic, I suppose. The third part of the book picks up a bit as many secrets are uncovered.
My biggest complain is that there were parts where heavier editing was needed. But all in all is a good story.
It doesn't really end in a cliffhanger, which I appreciated, but it leaves many questions unanswered.
*Demon killer FMC
*Demon-like MMC
*Angels, demons and other creatures
*Different planes of existence
*Family mystery
*Lost memories
*Elemental magic
*Super slow burn
This book was a nice paranormal fantasy with a side of romance. The worldbuilding was interesting with angels, demons and different planes of existence. The FMC and the MMC started as enemies, but it soon developed into reluctant allies. The mysteries surrounding the FMC family where quite complex, but the constant use of flashbacks was a bit repetitive.
The book started strong, with the FMC in the last leg of her life as a demon hunter whose memories will be erased be angels once her time is up. She then discovers she's got a bog old manor and the MMC, whom she's tried to kill thinking he was a demon, takes her there. The middle of the book dragged a bit as they set to uncover the mysteries surrounding both main characters. Their relationship develops slowly and I appreciate the efforts to get them bantering while they investigate, but their interactions where not my favourite. Much of the story on this part centers on the MMC recalling parts of his long life and the FMC seeing flashbacks brought about by magic, I suppose. The third part of the book picks up a bit as many secrets are uncovered.
My biggest complain is that there were parts where heavier editing was needed. But all in all is a good story.
It doesn't really end in a cliffhanger, which I appreciated, but it leaves many questions unanswered.
August 15, 2023
This book ended up being pretty interesting. It starts off with a woman named Allie who is a demon hunter. We follow her as she returns to her family estate, which is her inheritance, and the chaos ensues. She meets a man named Simon and they are the two main characters from there on out.
There is so much going on in this book. There are humans, angels, demons, and something that doesn't fit any of those categories.
I really enjoyed the premise of this story and I thought the second half was action packed! The story really picked up pace and had some nice spice and some crazy drama!
What I wasn't crazy about was the character of Simon telling Allie so much of the story. Maybe if he had told it in a different way, but going from present time story telling to hearing it as if we were in his memory didn't seem to flow as well as I'd like.
There is a lot of focus on mundane activities, such as eating, showering, getting dressed and I felt like some of that could have been skipped.
Allie is such a badas$ in parts of the book, but other parts she acts much younger than she is and I would have loved to see her be a more dominant FMC the entire time.
I think this author has an amazing imagination and I love that she was able to turn her ideas into a book! I'm glad I read it and if I know anyone looking for a good paranormal read I'll recommend this one.
A big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.
There is so much going on in this book. There are humans, angels, demons, and something that doesn't fit any of those categories.
I really enjoyed the premise of this story and I thought the second half was action packed! The story really picked up pace and had some nice spice and some crazy drama!
What I wasn't crazy about was the character of Simon telling Allie so much of the story. Maybe if he had told it in a different way, but going from present time story telling to hearing it as if we were in his memory didn't seem to flow as well as I'd like.
There is a lot of focus on mundane activities, such as eating, showering, getting dressed and I felt like some of that could have been skipped.
Allie is such a badas$ in parts of the book, but other parts she acts much younger than she is and I would have loved to see her be a more dominant FMC the entire time.
I think this author has an amazing imagination and I love that she was able to turn her ideas into a book! I'm glad I read it and if I know anyone looking for a good paranormal read I'll recommend this one.
A big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.
November 22, 2023
11/21/23 You guys love my initial reactions.. well guess what.. I’M CRYING.
.
.
[Ten minutes later] I did not expect this ending, at all. Oh good grief, what happened to my heart? I have to be honest, I barely remembered the synopsis of this from the request page on netgalley (hey, shoutout to netgalley for this one). Therefore, I just decided to dive right into this one with no refresher or real guidance of what I was getting myself into.
Holy plot. This was BEAUTIFUL. I thought at first that this book was smarter than me, and that there was just too many details- but I persisted and then it just all started to make sense? No seriously- this was amazing and I really did not expect all of the twists that came in this. You might think you have it figured out but then there's another crazy layer to this.
We follow the story of Allie, who has an odd job hunting demons for the angles but oddly enough, Allie has a bunch of information that she has to figure out herself but she doesn't know that she has to figure it out herself for it to stick. However, she has a cunning and handsome sidekick... butler? from her family's estate to guide her along and help her out.
I don't want to spoil this one. Seriously, the unravel of family secrets and corruption and the playout from an action packed evil fight is 100% worth it.
TRUST.THE.PROCESS.
.
.
[Ten minutes later] I did not expect this ending, at all. Oh good grief, what happened to my heart? I have to be honest, I barely remembered the synopsis of this from the request page on netgalley (hey, shoutout to netgalley for this one). Therefore, I just decided to dive right into this one with no refresher or real guidance of what I was getting myself into.
Holy plot. This was BEAUTIFUL. I thought at first that this book was smarter than me, and that there was just too many details- but I persisted and then it just all started to make sense? No seriously- this was amazing and I really did not expect all of the twists that came in this. You might think you have it figured out but then there's another crazy layer to this.
We follow the story of Allie, who has an odd job hunting demons for the angles but oddly enough, Allie has a bunch of information that she has to figure out herself but she doesn't know that she has to figure it out herself for it to stick. However, she has a cunning and handsome sidekick... butler? from her family's estate to guide her along and help her out.
I don't want to spoil this one. Seriously, the unravel of family secrets and corruption and the playout from an action packed evil fight is 100% worth it.
TRUST.THE.PROCESS.
February 27, 2024
Book Review 📚
Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston - 4/5 ⭐
Fantasy with romance and even a little bit of horror? That is such a peculiar mix but it worked so well together. It was a slow paced book but in a good way. There was so much you want answers to and to have them all at once would of made the story finish within the first chapter!
There is some drama, suspense, romance and fantasy. Allie is our MC and she was amazing. There was so much about her that is likable and her character had so much depth. She seems so straightforward but then things start to change very quickly! I think it was Allie that actually had me hooked to the book.
Grave Secrets is a page turner! There's so much happening and not enough time to get all the answers you want. I was thrilled when I found out there was gonna be more then one book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
Grave Secrets by Cassandra Aston - 4/5 ⭐
Fantasy with romance and even a little bit of horror? That is such a peculiar mix but it worked so well together. It was a slow paced book but in a good way. There was so much you want answers to and to have them all at once would of made the story finish within the first chapter!
There is some drama, suspense, romance and fantasy. Allie is our MC and she was amazing. There was so much about her that is likable and her character had so much depth. She seems so straightforward but then things start to change very quickly! I think it was Allie that actually had me hooked to the book.
Grave Secrets is a page turner! There's so much happening and not enough time to get all the answers you want. I was thrilled when I found out there was gonna be more then one book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
January 15, 2024
Cassandra Aston made an unbelievable good
Urban fantasy story about a girl who tries to uncover dark secrets with help from a man who she actually must kill.
Allie is great protagonist. She only has a only a month to look for answers. She is a strong and witty women with high walls built around her heart.
The complexity and extensive writing of the characters make them so real.
I like how the author has woven the fantasy of angels and and made her own twist on it.
The storyline is unique and intriguing with a lot of action, suspense and twist and turns.
I am very much looking forward to the second part.
Urban fantasy story about a girl who tries to uncover dark secrets with help from a man who she actually must kill.
Allie is great protagonist. She only has a only a month to look for answers. She is a strong and witty women with high walls built around her heart.
The complexity and extensive writing of the characters make them so real.
I like how the author has woven the fantasy of angels and and made her own twist on it.
The storyline is unique and intriguing with a lot of action, suspense and twist and turns.
I am very much looking forward to the second part.
March 7, 2025
Can't believe I waited so long to write a review.
This right here is my Roman Empire and I'll live on this hill. This is exactly what we need in world building. When I think I've figured it out boom another twist. Make sure to have the second book handy, you'll thank me. Allie is a strong female character and a tough nut to crack. But you can see Simon slowly cracking the wall she built to survive.
Was I shocked at the surprise? Yes. Do I wish I could read this again for the first time? Yes. Will I be recommending this to everyone? Heck yes!
This right here is my Roman Empire and I'll live on this hill. This is exactly what we need in world building. When I think I've figured it out boom another twist. Make sure to have the second book handy, you'll thank me. Allie is a strong female character and a tough nut to crack. But you can see Simon slowly cracking the wall she built to survive.
Was I shocked at the surprise? Yes. Do I wish I could read this again for the first time? Yes. Will I be recommending this to everyone? Heck yes!
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