Hi hello and welcome to the Meet the Book Blogger tag! This tag was created by Lauren @ Lala’s Book Reviews so please be sure to go and check out her original post. I’m really excited to do this tag and share a bit about myself and my reading habits. I personally love getting to know more about the person that I’m reading reviews from so I thought this would be a great way to do that for myself! Let’s get started!

About the Author:

Get Angels & Demons: The Series here!

From Goodreads: "The future of the vampires— and the fate of the shifters— rests upon the shoulders of Russia’s last heir.
The time for running is over. The time for war has just begun. As the only surviving member of the Romanov family save for Csar Dragomir, Lysandra is in a fight for survival. Her worst enemies are around every corner, hunting for a mystical item that will change the course of the war. Using clues left behind by her ancestor, Princess Anastasia, Lysandra must find it before they do… or suffer the horrors of the undead. But even an artifact as powerful as the one they’re searching for cannot compare to Lisar and Lysandra’s greatest challenge. Before the lovers can see what’s coming, tragedy strikes, and their romance will never be the same. The ending result will change their love story forever… and, potentially, end their marriage. Friends fall. Death is rampant. Couples unite, and the meaning of true love is explored as Lysandra and her companions put everything on the line to bring down a tyrant whose madness knows no end. In the final conclusion of what began as the star crossed tale of a vampire princess and her wolf, who will make the ultimate sacrifice for love?"

Thank you to Megan Linski and Gryfyn Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

It's over and I can't believe it. I feel like I've been following these characters for so long and now, with Heir to Russia, the series has come to an end. I've been dreading the finale for a while because I just wasn't ready to let go of these characters and this world, but this book was amazing and wraps up the series so well.

Plot:
There is so much that happens in this book and as it is the final book in the series, I don't want to go too much into detail in case of spoilers. But oh my goodness was this absolutely action packed and fantastic. The final battle is almost here and you can definitely feel the tension rising all throughout the book. I won't lie, I was almost in tears from page one until the end (except that one point where I was in tears because reasons BUT WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT HERE) because I was so excited to read this. There's a new addition to the group (yes, I cried about that), more about Lysandra's ancestors, a creepy powerful artifact that could change the war forever, love, loss (SERIOUSLY I'M NOT OKAY WITH THE LOSS), a huge tragedy that will change everything, and finally an ending that will leave you sobbing and happy dancing at the same time. I wasn't kidding when I said that there was so much that happens in this book! But, as usual, you don't feel like there's too much going on at once. Keeping the balance between not enough and too much information is a delicate one, but somehow Megan Linski pulls it off effortlessly. I'm telling you, she's a wizard of the written word. Everything from start to finish unfolded so well and it was such an easy book to sit down and get lost in that I had to pace myself and make sure I didn't finish too quickly! Something I like to gush about with Megan Linski's books is how well things flow while you're reading. The pace is set at a brisk walk and nothing is ever rushed or glazed over. You're given everything you need to know when you need to know it and you're never left scrambling back for more information because it all comes out exactly when it needs to. Heir to Russia delivers on all points with a plot that answers all of the questions and gives you a satisfying ending to a beautiful series.

It may be over, but I still want more in this world and I'm not ready to let go yet!

Characters:
I'm going to have to have a serious talk with Megan Linski about creating these amazing characters and then ripping my heart out by taking them away. Anyway!

One thing about this series that I love (because honestly there are so many things I love) is that the relationship between Lysandra and Lisar is so real. Okay, I know, a vampire and wolf relationship isn't real, but that's not what I mean. In so many books, especially YA books, we have the main character in a relationship that's usually love at first sight and it's perfect. They never fight, agree on everything, and run through the field holding hands into the sunset. It's not realistic and it's so annoying to read about since every single book has that kind of relationship. But with this series, Megan Linski does a beautiful job at writing a relationship that you can really relate to. Real couples fight, they don't always agree on things, and they're definitely not perfect. But real couples also talk things out and compromise, which is exactly how Lysandra and Lisar act. Sure, they're dealing with some fairly different things than other couples have to deal with, but they never come off as perfect in any way. They both know it, too, which makes it even more wonderful to read about.

Another character that I have a huge love for is Serghei. He's such a fantastic character and a huge pillar of strength for Lysandra. Throughout the series, he's consistently loyal and helps Lysandra through some difficult times. Honestly, if I had to pick a favorite character outside of Lysandra and Lisar, it would be Serghei. I'm almost positive that I go on and on about Serghei in every review of this series, but really, he's just a good frickin guy.

I think that Heir to Russia had a great mix of characters between the vampires, wolves, and witches. You get the characters you know and love and see them all not only trying to work together to fight Dragomir, but also evolving themselves. You see wolves and vampires falling in love and ending the war between the races in their own way and it's beautiful. I just genuinely adore the characters that Megan Linski has created and they're all so well-written and unique in their own ways. I've thoroughly enjoyed following each of the story lines of all of the characters and seeing how they grow and develop over the course of the series. They all have good and bad experiences and it shapes them all in so many different ways and I really liked seeing how everyone turned out in the end. It's hard to let go of them, but I know they've all gotten their happy ending that they more than deserve!

Writing:
It's really not a secret that I'm a fan of Megan Linski's books. With every book she releases, her writing is the thing I look forward to the most. She's able to paint a picture in your mind of everything that's happening. I felt like I was in the Winter Palace with Lysandra, learning about her ancestor and uncovering secrets. It's effortless to fall into these worlds that have been created and just fly through the book without realizing it. One thing I continually praise Megan Linski on is her ability to balance description. There's never a point where I'm reading her writing where I feel like there's not enough information being given to me and I feel lost, or that there's too much and it's an info dump that makes me not want to continue because I'm overloaded with information. She's able to perfectly balance that line between too much and not enough and I'm always so impressed with how she does it! Her descriptions are beautiful and the world of the Shifter Prophecy is absolutely magical. It's one series that will be impossible to forget, that's for sure.

Heir to Russia closes out the Shifter Prophecy series with a bang! It has the beautiful, descriptive, lyrical writing that accompanies each of the installments, the same lovable, unforgettable characters that you've come to know like the back of your hand, and an ending that will leave you smiling. And if you're like me, bawling like a baby. There's magic, big battles, good, evil, love, loss, and so much more within the pages of Heir to Russia. Be sure to grab it and wrap up your Shifter Prophecy series read with a big, vampirey-wolfy bow!

From Goodreads: "What if you were in love with heaven and hell? 
Cassia Delamore is a foster kid. Shuffled from home to home all her life after losing her mother, she’s never known her father, nor what it feels like to be loved. She hopes to start a new life in the idyllic town of Heaven. She has a plan; graduate high school, pack her bags, and leave her tragic past behind her. Yet fate is about to turn Cassia’s life upside down. On her first day of high school, she meets two very different men… bad boy Thames, who possesses a fiery temper, and cool Cairo, captain of the football team and all-around hero. But there’s more to these men than meets the eye. As Cassia grows closer to the boys, she discovers a world of angels and demons fighting for the souls of mankind. Cassia finds herself immersed in a holy war that isn’t hers, torn between Cairo and Thames in a love triangle straight out of a storybook. Will Cassia taste forbidden fruit? Or will her epic romance end in a dark destiny? 

Thank you to Megan Linski and Gryfyn Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

Yup, that's right, another Megan Linski book. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. At this point, I'm pretty convinced that she's a writing wizard sent to Earth to bring us amazing book after amazing book. Seriously, she has some crazy talent. So strap in and prepare for my review gush about her newest book, Torrent.

Plot:
Cassia is a foster kid, bouncing from home to home after losing her mother as a kid. Now, in the town of Heaven, Michigan with her new foster mother, she hopes to start a new life. Her plan is to graduate high school, pack her bags, and leave her past behind her. But fate has other plans. On her first day of school, she meets two very different people- hot-headed Thames and calm and cool Cairo. There's more to these boys than meets the eye and their differences are more than they appear on the surface. Cassia is soon thrust into a world full of angels and demons and a holy war that has nothing to do with her. Torn between Cairo and Thames in a love triangle that could become fatal, will Cassia reach out to what's forbidden or will her romance end in tragedy?

Fair warning, my reviews on Megan Linski books tend to be more me blabbering on about how much I loved the book and her writing. This will probably be no different. I've been on a roll reading her Shifter Prophecy series, all caught up in a romance involving a vampire and a wolf and their incredibly convoluted love story. When I saw an ARC copy of Torrent sitting in my inbox, I quite literally pounced. All I saw about the book was, "What if you were in love with heaven and hell?" and I was sold. It doesn't take much when it comes to a Megan Linski book, to be quite honest. She consistently puts out books that just speak to me on different levels and I've never been disappointed by her work. Torrent is no exception. The plot follows Cassia as she tries to navigate not only a new home and foster mother, but a new school, and her growing feelings for two boys that aren't exactly human, but there is so much more to this book than you think there is, and I loved every bit of it. From the battle between angels and demons, to Cassia's crazy "love triangle," and most importantly, Cassia herself, Torrent hooked me and didn't let go until the last page.

This book starts off feeling a bit like Twilight (which hit me right in the nostalgia feels and had me impatiently turning pages on my Kindle to read more, no shame) with the new girl in school meeting the mysterious bad boy. Except there's two boys, and only one of them is "bad." There's secrets, and romance, and more secrets and it all comes together to create an addictive story that will have you aggressively turning the pages for more. Seriously, it's addictive. Everything unfolds so well and does a great job at keeping the reader interested while not giving away all of the important details all at once. One of the best points of the story? The romance isn't insta-love! It builds up slowly (with both boys) and you feel rather satisfied when they finally step up and reveal their feelings. I'm generally not a fan of love triangles, and was hesitant at the thought of reading about another one, but I think I can safely say that this isn't a love triangle. It's complicated, but definitely makes more sense once you read it. Also, I loved how clever Megan Linski was making the setting in Heaven, Michigan. All of the clever points to her for that. Torrent is just an incredibly easy and satisfying read that is sure to please fans of the paranormal romance genre. Step aside, Fallen, because Torrent is here to slay!

Characters:
Cassia was such a great character to follow. There was a deeper level to her than I initially thought and when I learned about her past and why she was so eager to leave it behind, I honestly wanted to crawl between the pages and hug her. She had a rough life with all of her foster homes, and her most recent one (before coming to Heaven, Michigan) was the worst. Watching her try to adapt to a home/foster parent that actually loved and cared for her was so sad because she truly didn't understand what was happening. She didn't get that her foster mom actually loved her and wanted to take care of her and have her stay and it absolutely broke my heart to see that. But in spite of her terrible past, she was so strong. Cassia didn't take crap from anyone, angels and demons included. She stood up for herself and called people out on their nonsense and I couldn't get enough of her sassy attitude. There was also something about her that I kind of called from the beginning, but it was still cool finding it out at the end! Cassia was just fabulous and so real and I truly think anyone who reads Torrent will end up with a soft spot for her.

Very quickly, I want to touch on the boys of the book. Cairo and Thames were about as opposite as you can get, but I loved both of them. It's pretty obvious who is who, but you almost want things to be flipped around as far as who is who. I know, confusing again, but it'll make sense if you read the book! I found myself immediately drawn to Thames, but I wasn't surprised about that as the bad boys are generally the ones I gravitate towards. I think what I liked most about them was that their personalities matched who they were perfectly. Also, they were both so protective of Cassia and cared for her so much and while it was great to see them "fighting" over her (and I know Cassia was all about it as well) it was also great to see them work together to keep her safe. I really hope there is a sequel to this book because I could seriously use another book all about these characters!

Oh, and I'm forever team Thassia.

Writing:
I say it in every review I do of a Megan Linski book but I loved the writing. There's just something about her writing that's so easy to sit down and read. It's descriptive and really gives you the ability to picture the world that she's created, but you never feel like you're being bombarded with information. It flows so well and there's always something about it that will give you the feels. With Torrent, there's an underlying story about a girl that's trying to move on from your past and discovering the person that you are. The romance feels authentic and not like insta-love and the interactions between all of the characters feel genuine and not like things are forced together. Megan Linski has a great way of creating a world and making it feel real, no matter what it's about. Torrent is a beautiful story about personal growth, acceptance, love, and fighting demons to keep the world safe. Hey, it is paranormal romance after all!

Torrent is a fantastic new paranormal romance that is sure to instantly capture everyone's attention. Readers will love the romance between Cassia, Cairo, and Thames and the writing will effortlessly draw you in to their world. With memorable characters, beautiful writing, and an ending that will leave you begging for a sequel, Torrent is a book that can't be missed!

Title: The Kingdom Saga Collection: Books 1-4
Author: Megan Linski
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Release Date: 19 May 2017
Publisher: Gryfyn Publishing

Summary:

A princess becomes a warrior, indulges in forbidden romance, and rules an empire in an epic fantasy saga inspired by Aladdin and the 1001 Arabian Nights.

Princess Bennua is betrothed to a foreigner in a far-away land -- until a prince of thieves comes to claim her for himself. Kidnapped and brought to a desert of mystery and wonder, Bennua finds herself the master of a djinn trapped within a magic lamp... and in love with a man who’s as secretive as he is dangerous.

Her travels take her to lands of ancient pharaohs and dark crypts, to illustrious palaces and jungles filled with mythical beasts. Bennua finds herself in service of an ancient deity, a fire god who is at war with the devil, and in the middle of a war where angels battle kings and monsters devour men. 

Swords clash, magic ignites, and sultans fall. One girl has the power to save the world, and she will bring the desert to its knees with her bravery... her strength... and her love.

With thousands of copies in the hands of readers, The Kingdom Saga is an emotional story of true love, redemption, and faith featuring a strong heroine, a handsome prince and a lovable djinn.

Includes all four books in The Kingdom Saga series!