Book Review: Tokyo Dreaming (Tokyo Ever After #1) - Emiko Jean

 Pan Macmillan    Released: 14th June 2022   RRP: $19.99

Return to Tokyo for a royal wedding in Emiko Jean's Tokyo Dreaming, the sequel to the Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Tokyo Ever After

When Japanese-American Izumi Tanaka learned her father was the Crown Prince of Japan, she became a princess overnight. Now, she’s overcome conniving cousins, salacious press, and an imperial scandal to finally find a place she belongs. She has a perfect bodyguard turned boyfriend. Her stinky dog, Tamagotchi, is living with her in Tokyo. Her parents have even rekindled their college romance and are engaged. A royal wedding is on the horizon! Izumi’s life is a Tokyo dream come true. Only...

Her parents’ engagement hits a brick wall. The Imperial Household Council refuses to approve the marriage citing concerns about Izumi and her mother’s lack of pedigree. And on top of it all, her bodyguard turned boyfriend makes a shocking decision about their relationship. At the threat of everything falling apart, Izumi vows to do whatever it takes to help win over the council. Which means upping her newly acquired princess game.

But at what cost? Izumi will do anything to help her parents achieve their happily ever after, but what if playing the perfect princess means sacrificing her own? Will she find a way to forge her own path and follow her heart?

Review.

Tokyo Dreaming is a continuation of Princess Izumi's story and her newly discovered life of being a Princess of Japan.

With her parents now engaged and a royal wedding on the horizon, life would seem to be perfect, but when the Imperial Council won't approve of her parents getting married, Izumi decides that she will do whatever it takes to make herself into the kind of Princess that the Council approves of in hopes it will help her and her Mother be accepted.

While I did enjoy this book. I found myself torn between Izumi's two relationships and I even preferred the newest one more than her old one (I don't want to spoil the plot, hence the vagueness), and I think that's the main reason I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book 'Tokyo Ever After'.

I recommend this series for those that enjoy a really good YA contemporary series, they're quick reads and lots of fun.

I received a copy of this book to review from Pan Macmillan, all thoughts are my own.

Book Review: Realm Breaker (Realm Breaker #1) - Victoria Aveyard

 Hachette Australia     Released: 4th May 2021     RRP:$22.99

Save the world or end it.

A strange darkness is growing in the Ward. Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.

Fate knocks on her door, in the form of a mythical immortal and a lethal assassin, who tell Corayne that she is the last of an ancient lineage—with the power to save the world from destruction.

Because a man who would burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army unlike any seen before, bent on uprooting the foundations of the world. With poison in his heart and a stolen sword in his hand, he'll break the realm itself to claim it. And only Corayne can stop him.

Alongside an unlikely group of reluctant allies, Corayne finds herself on a desperate journey to complete an impossible task, with untold magic singing in her blood and the fate of the world on her shoulders.

Review.

"No mortal alive had ever seen a spindle'.

So begins Realm Breaker, the first novel in a new epic fantasy series.

After loving the Red Queen series, I was excited to discover this new world that Victoria had created.

The first couple of chapters had me trying to wrap my head around all the characters that had been introduced and who was who; once I got past that, I found myself pulled into the story and all the adventures that took place throughout.

I appreciated having multiple POVs throughout the book; I feel it adds more depth to the story.

I adored Dom, he's like a big teddy bear, and I really hope he and Sorasa end up together; I found their interactions and entire relationship funny, which was a favourite part of the book for me.

I can't wait for book two, 'Blade Breaker,' to again follow our ragtag group on their mission to save the world.

A big thanks to Hachette Australia for sending me this review copy; all thoughts are my own.