A review by kfriend
All Hail by J. Bree
5.0
What a delicious return to Mounts Bay- where the knives are sharp and the twists and turns sharper. The Ice Queen, Avery Beaumont, is giving us the world through her eyes- and the Floss we know through the eyes of others has much underneath the surface we haven’t even scratched. The players keep changing, but the MB drama and politics are as dangerous and enigmatic as ever- and now Avery has to hold her own. All Hail is a victorious start to Avery’s story- and like any visit to Mounts Bay, this story left me battered and bruised and hungry for more.
Lips and Avery’s journey has been so intertwined, and it is a tall task of taking a character that is secondary to the romance of another and center the narrative on them. Avery has been a queen from the start, but she’s always been part of LIPS’ story- not the center of her own. But J BREE really brilliantly recenters the narrative. Cleverly ensuring that Lips is a crucial part of Avery’s (because these two are the REAL love story) while also pulling Lips and her men far enough away from All Hail to ensure that the story really can be Avery’s- that we can focus solely on her and her narrative and aren’t distracted by the shiny awesomeness of our OG romance. It is really subtle but artfully done- not only because this serves to ensure Avery is the center, but it also serves as a plot catalyst, a way to force her to deal with some other things (and some other people) without the buffer of her chosen family. Because she is isolated- and that forces her to rely on and connect with people she wouldn’t if she was still in the orbit of her Twelve family. Turns out this is crucial, because much of what we see in All Hail wouldn’t be possible if J Bree hadn’t cleared a path for this story- one that is believable and feels good both to Lips’ narrative as well as Avery’s.
The story did start out slowly for me- but, this is a series opener, so we needed some exposition. I wasn’t quite sure where JB was going to take this- there is a lot going on and a lot that Avery has her hands in, and I still have more questions than answers, but that is par for the Mounts Bay course. But, about 40% in, the story really picked up the pace, in part because once we had all the groundwork laid, we really got to focus in on Avery’s relationships with those around her, as well as her trying to work through the emotional aftermath of everything that happened at the hand of the Jackal. Sure, the business with the Twelve is always interesting, but the psychological journey Avery is on is what really makes this story. This is such a strength of J Bree- she balances the edge of your seat action and the unique Mounts Bay politics and intrigue with gritty, intense, and captivating psychological and emotional journeys. Characters working through trauma, pain, past hurt, lies- the action is really just a backdrop for complex character studies, how her characters grow and evolve as the result of the world around them and the people around them. How they shift from surviving to thriving. And, Avery is still surviving. She is a beautiful character to behold- strong, empowered, loyal, altruistic and courageous. The QUEEN. But she’s also innocent, vulnerable, broken, even scared. She’s a lost girl wearing the mantle of a powerful woman. She has SO much love to give, such a big open heart, and she’s been hurt- by those who should have protected her, by those who should love her. Seeing this side of her in this story is so rewarding, and made me fall even more in love with her. I love how JBree is letting her be different. She’s not The Wolf 2.0- her strengths, her needs, her weaknesses are different, and so, thus, is her journey.
The relational chemistry was so nuanced and engaging- Avery and Aodhan, The Crow, even the Butcher. The STAG stole my whole heart- he’s resilient, loving, protective, and so dreamy. He’s the safety Avery needs, and the bond they share is something only the two of them can understand. But there’s still Atticus- his mixed messages, his suspiciousness, but his clear love for Avery. The connections are not only HOT, but incredibly complicated and fraught with conflicting emotions. The longing and tension just oozed off the page. And, I live for the Butcher and Avery in this- ADORABLE.
Of course, we end on a devastating cliff hanger that I can’t even begin to wrap my brain around. I STILL am not quite sure just where this story is going- what red herrings J Bree has dropped are actual clues vs. what are strategic distractions- and that’s why we love her, right? Always keeping us on our toes, always surprising us. I’m here for it- I don’t know where this train is going, but I’m all aboard. And Avery? She’s most certainly my queen.
Lips and Avery’s journey has been so intertwined, and it is a tall task of taking a character that is secondary to the romance of another and center the narrative on them. Avery has been a queen from the start, but she’s always been part of LIPS’ story- not the center of her own. But J BREE really brilliantly recenters the narrative. Cleverly ensuring that Lips is a crucial part of Avery’s (because these two are the REAL love story) while also pulling Lips and her men far enough away from All Hail to ensure that the story really can be Avery’s- that we can focus solely on her and her narrative and aren’t distracted by the shiny awesomeness of our OG romance. It is really subtle but artfully done- not only because this serves to ensure Avery is the center, but it also serves as a plot catalyst, a way to force her to deal with some other things (and some other people) without the buffer of her chosen family. Because she is isolated- and that forces her to rely on and connect with people she wouldn’t if she was still in the orbit of her Twelve family. Turns out this is crucial, because much of what we see in All Hail wouldn’t be possible if J Bree hadn’t cleared a path for this story- one that is believable and feels good both to Lips’ narrative as well as Avery’s.
The story did start out slowly for me- but, this is a series opener, so we needed some exposition. I wasn’t quite sure where JB was going to take this- there is a lot going on and a lot that Avery has her hands in, and I still have more questions than answers, but that is par for the Mounts Bay course. But, about 40% in, the story really picked up the pace, in part because once we had all the groundwork laid, we really got to focus in on Avery’s relationships with those around her, as well as her trying to work through the emotional aftermath of everything that happened at the hand of the Jackal. Sure, the business with the Twelve is always interesting, but the psychological journey Avery is on is what really makes this story. This is such a strength of J Bree- she balances the edge of your seat action and the unique Mounts Bay politics and intrigue with gritty, intense, and captivating psychological and emotional journeys. Characters working through trauma, pain, past hurt, lies- the action is really just a backdrop for complex character studies, how her characters grow and evolve as the result of the world around them and the people around them. How they shift from surviving to thriving. And, Avery is still surviving. She is a beautiful character to behold- strong, empowered, loyal, altruistic and courageous. The QUEEN. But she’s also innocent, vulnerable, broken, even scared. She’s a lost girl wearing the mantle of a powerful woman. She has SO much love to give, such a big open heart, and she’s been hurt- by those who should have protected her, by those who should love her. Seeing this side of her in this story is so rewarding, and made me fall even more in love with her. I love how JBree is letting her be different. She’s not The Wolf 2.0- her strengths, her needs, her weaknesses are different, and so, thus, is her journey.
The relational chemistry was so nuanced and engaging- Avery and Aodhan, The Crow, even the Butcher. The STAG stole my whole heart- he’s resilient, loving, protective, and so dreamy. He’s the safety Avery needs, and the bond they share is something only the two of them can understand. But there’s still Atticus- his mixed messages, his suspiciousness, but his clear love for Avery. The connections are not only HOT, but incredibly complicated and fraught with conflicting emotions. The longing and tension just oozed off the page. And, I live for the Butcher and Avery in this- ADORABLE.
Of course, we end on a devastating cliff hanger that I can’t even begin to wrap my brain around. I STILL am not quite sure just where this story is going- what red herrings J Bree has dropped are actual clues vs. what are strategic distractions- and that’s why we love her, right? Always keeping us on our toes, always surprising us. I’m here for it- I don’t know where this train is going, but I’m all aboard. And Avery? She’s most certainly my queen.