You know when you are reading a book that you cant decided if its bad or good and you are debating dnfing but your already a third of the ways through so you just keep reading? Marrow Charm is that book, its nothing special the characters have zero personality and the story is not as solid as it could have been but, it is an interesting one. I think the author writing style is not for me.

Azure ‘Azzy’ Brimvine lives in a world decimated by magic, where humans have retreated underground from the overwhelming dangers of the surface. But Below is no safer than Above.

Magic borne plagues continue to eat away at the remaining human cities, a sickness that doesn’t merely kill, but creates aberrations from the stricken: people twisted by magic into something dark, dangerous, and powerful. It is an existence of fear and constant dread. When Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out into the Above, she sets out after him, determined to be there for him no matter what he becomes.

The world Above is full of monsters, both wild and cunning, some more human than Azzy was led to believe. Armin is captured and bound for the Auction block of Avergard, a ruthless city of inhuman lords and twisted creatures. To reach him, Azzy must brave the perils of the Above and the chaotic life forms created by the Gate. To reach him, she must find allies and forge new bonds in this broken world.

And Azzy must reach him, before Armin’s new power is used to open the Gate once more. -Goodreads

This is going to be a short review because I actually didn't care for Azzy or Armin. More Azzy than anything. She did a lot of whining and a lot back and forth and did things without much thoughts. 

For life underground, she really didn't try to know more or achieve more. She just went though the motions until her life was disturbed and then there was a problem. Normally, I wouldn't exactly have an issue with this but I do because she worked under a apothecary but didn't really have the motivation or drive to learn things on her own. It was a bit disappointing to read. 

However, there was something that I liked about this book and that was the magic and the setting. The author has skill in sucking you into the world and keeping you there. Not to say I would live in that world because its messed up but one of the aspects I like was a side character Azzy meets. But Azzy shows a lack of understanding, care and investment because this character could have done wonders for Azzy like real wonders but Azzy doesn't think that far ahead. 

I digress on this short review. I can see why people love it so much but I wasn't exactly thrilled with it and I was bored. 

Overall, 

2 Pickles

There's going to be a book two to this one right? Please tell me that there will be a book two!!! Because, I need it NOW PLEASE!! I BEG YOU!!!
This is the first book by this author but it will not be the last. I was hooked from the first pages and I didn't put this one down until I was done. Well just say that taking a book to the bathroom, and the store, and well everywhere you get some strange looks. The changes of POV were a little abrupt but I got over it.

This one hit it out of the park with characters, world building, creatures, and action!!

Azzy lives in a dystopian world where The Rot, a magic plague, turns people into dangerous beings. When her brother is infected by The Rot, the people of Below cast him away to the Above, which is said to riddled with unknown dangers he may not survive. Azzy risks her life to protect her brother and finds that there's more to the Above and the creatures that live up there than what was originally thought.

Marrow Charm is an amazing book that captured my attention immediately. The dystopian world the characters live in is unique and fascinating. The main character, Azzy is an incredibly brave and selfless character that does anything she can to protect the ones she loves no matter the sacrifice. I'm excited to see what the author has in store for a sequel!

page-turner from start to end, this dystopian novel was easily able to capture my attention from the get-go with the magical creative writing style the author was able to displayed, refreshing and unique characters, and storyline that captivated me. With this novel being the first I have read from this author, I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us.

4.5 Stars

The Gate between realms was opened by an evil ruler allowing magic to invade the human world bringing ruin and mayhem along with fantastical beasts, vicious monsters, and a taint that transforms people into something more. Azure “Azzy” Brimvine lives with her brother and guardian underground where most humans have fled. Those living below the surface have a tenuous life of privation, plagues, and monsters in the dark waiting to prey on them. The magic twists them into piteous beings. Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out to The Above where all manner of creatures, some seemingly human, dwell.

Azzy and her guardian undertake a quest to find Armin before he transforms to a monster. They are quickly separated so Azzy must walk the perilous road accompanied only by a shapeshifter whom she had saved from death. Along the journey, they meet a witch who sets Azzy on the path to rescue Armin; however, she must pay a harsh price.

Armin and Brixby, the guardian, are captured by Snatchers who take him to the Above city of Avergard to be auctioned off as a slave. Whether he can survive his transition to something other is questionable. Armin’s emerging powers are of a particular and possibly catastrophic use to one of the ruthless lords who run the Above city.

During their parallel travels and travails, sister and brother endure much hardship in this fantastical, mesmerizing world that Kristin Jacques has created. This story is told from several points of view so we see how the journeys unfolds through differing perspectives. Readers of High Fantasy will enjoy the phantasmagorical creatures in a bizarre and magical setting. Most highly regarded of all, in this complex and intense story is the noble heroine, Azzy, who has some mighty, yet unknown powers of her own and a heart so full of love and willingness to sacrifice for her brother and others she deems worthy. I look forward to the next in the series.

So far they had merely eeked out an existence underground... can they survive the insanity Above? With constant peril at every turn, who among them will come out of this ever shifting world of horrors alive... and intact?

This crazy world was populated with a varied collection of dark and gruesome constructs and MAN were they imaginative and creepy as all heck. There were no (truly) safe places to be found, for macabre beings and repugnant (Mad Max type) humans took over the Above ever since magic was let loose.

Here's how things fared....
The Trifecta of Literary Awesomeness went as follows:

- The writing: was smooth and flowed perfectly. It created a bone deep sense of foreboding and promised imminent, greivis bodily harm. It was not arrogant, verbose, sophomoric or highfalutin. It really hit the spot.

- The World Building: was detailed rich and lush. There were monstrous critters and things that go GRRRRRR... HISSSSS in the night (with teeth to back up such bold warnings) and some with no warnings at all. The dread was palpable.

- The Character Development: was dynamic and poignant. Nothing and no one were completely as they seemed. I really liked our MCs, especially loyal, doting, dependable Kai. Our female MC, Azzy, was a strongly motivated, highly capable, devoted, kickass heroine. She was smart and all sorts of brave. Her bonds with both her brother, Armin, and Kai were touching. I loved both she and Kai's reactions towards their budding, enigmatic feelings for one another. AND the sibling relationship was Magical. My only gripe was that she had "instincts" that enabled her to navigate obstacles/plot pitfalls as well as push the story along in slogging areas almost to a point of major annoyance. Even though it was pushed along a highly addictive track, it was still a copout and I felt jipped!

Speaking of addictive, I couldn't put this one down no matter what time of day or chore I accidentally (on purpose) neglected in the process. It wasn't until I reached the epilogue that I fully realized that there were a frustrating number of loose ends that needed tailoring and not enough available pages to accommodate. One minute the sky was just turning dark and I'm in the thick of things then the next minute I hit the epilogue and birds are merrily chirping outside in the suffused morning light. The very next blink I found myself at the last page wondering where the heck the rest of the book went? It can't end this way, can it? I exhaled into my sleepy house (not too loud as to wake the kiddo... or hubby... he gets cranky when I wake him while screaming at my books) "oh bloody HELL!!"!

Overall: the characters were in constant peril which kept things spicy and the pages flying by without being conscious of just how much time evaporated. The Trifecta of Literary Awesomeness was met skillfully with a unique premise and rich imagery at every turn. Every box was checkecked and gone over twice. With multiple 3rd person POVs, things could have easily gotten convoluted but thankfully it worked out seamlessly here. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am very curious as to what happens next.

*** I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *** and I'd be ecstatic to review book #2 as well!...ahem

This dark tale took me a while to get into. It starts out a bit dry. After you get 4-5 chapters in you really starts to pick up. Our main character, Azzy, tends to blame everything that happens on herself. So she has very low self-esteem. She lives in a very rough time, where they are so poor that they eat their own dead, disgusting! Anyway Azzy & her brother, Armin, live with their guardian, Brixby. The story takes off when the elder of the town discovers Armin is a witch. He is something they call tainted or going insane. Hearing voices, having hallucinations, their bodies crack & bleed, they forget everyone and eventually they die. They are afraid of these people so they kick them out of their towns. The adventures begin when Brixby & Azzy attempt to follow Armin. Unfortunately, the snatches (people who sell people to make a profit) take Armin. Azzy gets chased by wolves. And Brixby ends up going with the snatches as well. Will they see each other again? There were a few errors on my Kindle I thought you might want to know about. On Page 2849; Instead Armin clutched the man's forearm it like a lifeline. (It should say, "like it was"). On page 3060; It continued its wending crawl backward , slipping off the spit of sand into the black water. (It should say, "winding"). On page 3886; "Why don't smile with your whole mouth, Lord Wallach ?" (It should say, "don't you"). I just thought your readers deserved to have these corrections made, instead of having to figure out what was trying to be said. I did start to really like these characters & can't wait to see what happens to them next.

I think 4.5 stars would be more accurate for my review of Marrow Charm. I couldn't get enough of the characters and their own stories. Azzy and her brother Armin are raised underground after horrors have overtaken the world above. Magic runs deep, destroying humanity both Above and Below. Their mother has already faced the deadly consequences, leaving Azzy and Armin in the care of Brixby the Apothecary. When magic starts to overtake Armin, he is forced out of their home Below and must fend for himself on the surface. When Azzy and Brixby try to help him, they are ambushed and split up. As Azzy works her way through the surface world of monsters and unknown horrors, she meets unlikely creatures who help her on her journey to her brother and guardian.
Azzy is one of those characters I am immediately drawn towards. She is brave, smart, and a quick thinker. The love she has for her brother pushes her forward past the dangers that threaten her life. I admired her strong will. I was really interested in Kai, and I hope the sequel will focus a little more on him and his backstory. The only complaint is that I didn't really feel a connection to Armin. The first half of the book focuses on Azzy's point of view, so by the last half of the book when it switches to Armin's story, I was so invested in Azzy that I just skimmed over Armin's story. The world this is set in was amazing. The descriptions of the monsters and creatures on the surface gave me chills. This is such a rich world, I hope the sequel will expand even further.

Magic is unruly. It cannot be controlled. When released it breeds dark creatures, creates monsters from pure flesh and diseases born of magic meant to consume.

In a moment when words are greatly needed I am at a loss to properly articulate the captivating read this was for me. The author writes fluently and effortless bringing the scenes and characters to life in your mind. This book could easily be considered horrific with the description of the Above creatures and the natives to the territory. The gory details of monsters, transitions and dismemberment are just icing on the cake of graphic description.

But that’s not all…

I could not properly build a brief synopsis of this book without giving away details I feel the reader needs to gleam on their own. I can indicate that the reader is immediately thrown into the dangers of the Above as we meet Azzy our main character. You’ll fall in love with the apothecary, Brixby, who has taken in the orphan siblings. Azzy’s brother, Armin, who holds a powerful magic inside. Kai, the wolf connected deeply to Azzy and many others along the way.
The only desire I had once I finished was to know more about how it all began. Though I am not one for books that have chapters dedicated to the history of origins for a story; I do enjoy enough background to have an understanding of why a world is the way it currently is. Without reading the synopsis provided on NetGalley I wouldn’t have known what little I did. I do not think it takes away from the story though it does take a momentary chapter or two to grab a foothold in the plotline.

With that said this book was a 5/5 for me. I truly did “really like it.” I hope to add this to my shelves as a dust- jacketed hardback and cannot wait for the second installment.

*Disclaimer: I received this arc for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, Parliament House and special thanks to the author for allowing me the ability to review.*

Marrow Charm is an engaging and original YA fantasy tale. The story launches straight into the action, so it did take me a few chapters to get my bearings. Once I did, though, I fell in love with the characters and world building, particularly the developing relationship between Azzy and Kai. I turned the last page keen to know what would happen next, so I would definitely be interested in reading on in the series. If you are a YA Fantasy fan, this is definitely worth checking out. A solid four stars from me.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

To escape a world flooded by dangerous magic, humans sought safety by fleeing underground. They kept the monsters at bay for a long time, but evolution has a way of catching up to you, and change is the only constant. Azzy and Armin are siblings with extraordinary gifts. Unfortunately, in the underground town of Heap, these are the kinds of gifts that get a person banished to the Above—the surface where magic has twisted and tainted people and animals into unrecognizable predators. The siblings’ quest to find each other again leads them to new lands, new friends, and new revelations about their mysterious past.


There’s a lot going on, in a good way. The story starts simply, a dystopian future so dystopian and so future it’s come right back around to feeling like a classic fantasy. The first few chapters felt like straightforward storylines from Lord of the Rings, D&D, and City of Ember, but with each new interaction and revelation, another thread appeared, and another and another, and felt more like a tapestry of deftly woven fairy tales, Emerald City, and Monstress, until I forgot to compare it to anything else because I was too invested in it to think of other stories.

The horror elements are fantastic, and don’t feel out of place at all beside the rough-spun tunics of fantasy, flickering electric lights of dystopia, or the alien-feeling humanoid people populating the surface.

I think the most subtle, and interesting, question this book asks is “what does it mean to be human?” When magic has penetrated and transformed nearly every human on the planet, does the definition of “human” evolve with their evolution? Or will people be defined by the purity tests of a handful of seemingly unchanged holdouts? Who is more “human” between someone with no magic and full of cruelty, and someone with seven mouths and full of compassion?

The summary (on GoodReads, at least) seems little misleading, because it mentions how magic entered the world, and also teases that Armin’s powers would be used to open the Gate again, and I don’t think either of these are actually explained in the book? Unless I missed something important. Which is possible. Not a big deal, but I noticed it.

The best praise I can give is that I can’t stop thinking about it, and the more I think about it, the more nuances I notice. And of course, I can’t wait to find out what happens in book 2.

Rating: five stars.

Kristin Jacques's novel is very fast-paced, so fast-paced that I had a hard time following what was going on. There are makings of an interesting world but it is not explained enough to make me invested in it or the characters. So many things are mentioned and as a reader it is to be understood that these things are important to the world and the characters: The Rot, The Above, The Snatchers.. While I do understand the gist of why these things are important. The Rot is some sort of sickness that erupts every now and then - many people dies from it. The main characters live underground because of this, and The Above is well, the land above ground where some other people lives. The Snatchers kidnap people from the underground to sell as slaves to the people above ground. All that is pretty simple to understand but I would SO have enjoyed the story more if it would have explained why all this was relevant to the story. That didn't happen, unfortunately. This left me confused which in turn made me not really care about any of the characters. I didn't understand their role in their own story.

This turned out to be an intense dystopian story that actually felt more like a fantasy. It’s set in a future when mankind have retreated below ground to escape the horrors unleashed above. Magic is a taint that twists and alters those infected meaning monsters roam at will and normal humans fear for their lives.
We meet Azzy who lives with her brother Armin and their guardian in Heap, an underground city that’s gradually decaying. Azzy is caring, resourceful and frequently ventures above seeking herbs or anything useful as she knows it’s only a matter of time before her brothers infection is discovered. Of course things take a bad turn and Armin is cast out but when Azzy follows him it’s only to discover a horrible betrayal and Armin has been taken by grotesque traders who intend to auction him off !
Azzy is the perfect heroine and although most of this book is taken up by her journey we do get glimpses from other perspectives. I’ve no wish to reveal too much but expect Shifters, Witches and all manner of fantastical creatures. The magical elements are very intriguing and in spite of the books blurb revealing something there’s actually very little here that explains just exactly what has happened and why. I would have perhaps liked slightly more description about some of the monsters encountered so I could picture them but honestly that’s a minor niggle. I can honestly say I absolutely loved this story and was constantly surprised by this dark world and I’m already desperate to find out what happens next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

This book was provided as an e-arc by netgally

I loved this book.The story starts with a fight with an eight eyed creature and I became instantaneously hooked.I loved the family aspect here alot. Both of them were compassionate and perfect.


The world was very interesting but I think we needed a little more info in the beginning. There was always something new happening that we can learn from and that was a great point for me to be intrigued the whole time.By the ending,I was totally immersed in the magic system and the characters.


I don't what it was but the only thing I wanted to know was what the wolf was.That point even surpassed Armin's search.I was a little irritated when we switched POVs but that was a good decision from the author and after I loved how the story shifted.

Note:this book is more gruesome than normal YA.The feast scene was the worst for me.

I loved the characters here. I wasn't invested from the first moment but they grew on me. I want them all saved and well especially the wolf.

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing! The writing is beautiful and I loved the characters!
Can't wait for the sequel!

**Will be posted to my blog http://pastmidnight.home.blog on 9/18/2019**

Thank you to The Parliament House and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

I requested this book on NetGalley because of the cover, I love it. I guess I’m in a very dark mood lately with the change in seasons coming. The blurb sounded fascinating, and I love the words around the title, “as above, so below”. I have to say that intrigued me. By the way, I am NOT a horror fan usual, but I love this book.

The book blurb begins with some lost history of Avergard, but I forgot about the blurb when I started reading and I don’t remember anything about the Third Reich being mentioned in the story, unless I just missed it? 🤔 What did catch my attention was the writing. This is a beautifully told story, the words seeming effortless to describe this detailed world of the Above and Below. But let me just say, this is a dark tale.

The world in Marrow Charm is divided into the Above and the Below. Azure, or Azzy, has always lived below. And ohhhh boy did I not want to live there with her. Azzy grew up hearing about the monsters that live Above. But…as above, so below. There are scary things below! I was terrified for her life! And mine…even though I didn’t live there. 😂 Now I was trying to figure how to categorize this book…fantasy? But it seemed post-apocalyptic as well, so it is an interesting mix of both I suppose.

The world building is detailed and there was always something new to learn up until the last chapters when we actually get to Avergard. For most of the story we navigate the Below and Above with Azzy, as she tries to find her brother Armin. The separate journeys of Azzy and Armin in this book is harrowing, painful, suspenseful, and heart-breaking. But it’s not only Azzy and Armin trying to find their way, we meet secondary characters along the way that make this tale feel so rich with personalities, danger, mistrust, and hope.

Did I already mention this is dark? There is violence. There is a lot of blood, and despair and but I believed in Azzy. That girl is a survivor with powers we don’t fully understand yet. She is so determined to find her brother and I have to hope she will. And speaking of powers, this is a world of magic, especially in the Above where it seems valued in Avergard. Below, having skills like being an apothecary was very important. I loved learning about Brixby and his skill as an apothecary.

The story is emotional due to the relationship between Azzy and Armin. You can feel the love between them as siblings and I just pray Azzy can reunite with Armin. I just want it all to work out in the end for these characters I fell in love with. Is there a romance? A slight infusion of it with Azzy and a journey companion she meets. I hope to see where that storyline goes.

The story ends in the city of Avergard and once more I feel like there will be a lot to learn about this city. There is so much to uncover in this world of Marrow Charm, it seems to be unending, which I love. I love the layers I got to dig into with this story. I can’t wait to read the next book!

There are witches, shape shifters, high lords that rule with fear and we will most definitely learn more about them in the sequel. The thing I need in the sequel is to know the history of The Gate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and went looking to see where I could find a hardcopy or paperback for my shelf but so far I only see it in ebook form? It’s an amazing book and I look forward to reading more from this author.

A unique book, Marrow Charm follows Azzy, a young woman who must fight in order to save her twin brother Armin's life when he is sent to the Above. Even with the higher fantasy/sci fi plot, this book's center is definitely the sibling relationship between Azzy and Armin, which was well rounded. The world was well described and while some plot twists were easy to see coming, I still very much enjoyed this novel!

A special thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.