"The Bones of Ruin" by Sarah Raughley

A tightrope dancer with a mysterious past who can't die.

A tournament of freaks. 

A frightening destiny.

Welcome to "The Bones of Ruin".

Iris Marlow can't die. She also has no idea of who or what she is. Ten years ago, with no memories at all, Iris stumbled into a traveling circus tent and was able to secure herself an act as a tightrope dancer. 

During the last ten years, she has done everything she can to hide her secret. But when one of her show goes wrong and her secret is revealed, Iris finds herself pulled into a world of powerful elites who have their owns plans for her unique ability and they also may be the key to figuring out who she was before the circus.  Iris agrees to participate in a deadly tournament in exchange for information about her life before the circus.

Secrets, adventure. and murder abound as Iris discovers that she is not the only one in the city with unique abilities, and all of these individuals are somehow connected. 

This book had suspense, mystery, adventure, magic, tension and even a love square (like a love triangle, but with four people instead of three). This book is set in Victorian London and contains a variety of diverse characters that should appeal to a wide audience. 

While one big question is answered by the end of this book, there are many more that are left unanswered so I will be starting book two right away. I need answers about Iris and some of the other major players in the "Tournament of Freaks".

Overall, if you are a fan of the fantasy genre I expect you will greatly enjoy "Bones of Ruin". 

"Belladonna" by Adalyn Grace

 Overall, I loved this book! It gave me Wuthering Heights vibes with an Agatha Christie mystery thrown in. 

Five Stars!

All her life, Death has followed Signa Farrow.

He was there when her parents and all the guests and staff members of Foxglove were mysteriously poisoned and died at a party when Signa was just a baby. 

He was there throughout her childhood as a string of guardians, who were more interested in Signa's money than her welfare, perished within a fews years of accepting Signa into their homes. 

Now, he has followed Signa to Hawthorne Manor. 

Despite their own recent tragedies, the Hawthorne's, a distant relation to Signa's parents, have graciously invited Signa to live with them for the next 6 months until she turns 19 and is able to claim the inheritance that her family left to her upon their deaths. 

Signa discovers that her hope that Death will not follow her to her new home is in vain when she arrives at Hawthorne Manor only to discover that her cousin, Blythe, has contracted a mysterious life-threatening illness. It is the same illness that took Blythe's mother, Lilliana,  just months before. 

Signa can feel death's presence in the cold and unsettling Manor.

But that is not the only presence she senses.

Lilliana's spirit is not at rest, and her ghost haunts to grounds, crying and wailing in the night. The Hawthorne family is plagued by her restless spirit and Blythe's impending death. 

Signa is determined to stop Death from taking anyone else from her and Signa feels like, for once, she might be able to help because she has secrets of her own. 

Signa can see ghosts and she is tied to Death in a way that no other mortal have ever been. 

Signa suspects that Lillian's death wasn't due to an illness at all, and someone is targeting the remaining members of the family. Her best chance to save her new family is to ally herself with Death in order to catch the murderer before they strike again. 

As Signa and Death begin to work side by side to catch the murderer, the connection between them grows, and Signa realizes that there is more to Death than she ever could have imagined. 

This amazing gothic murder mystery has just the right amount of intrigue, suspense, plot twists, and romance to make a great book! I was hooked within the first few pages.  Signa was an intriguing character who really found herself as the story progressed. She was so unsure of who she wanted to be when the story began, but through the trials she experienced, she was able to take hold of her destiny and become who she was meant to be. 

Death was swoon worthy! He was so mysterious in the beginning, and as revelations were made throughout the story, you better understood his role in Signa's life and in her future. 

I am looking forward to starting book two!