Birth is a strange little tale about hope for a better future filled with peace and prosperity and faith in one man's vision to escape a world of consBirth is a strange little tale about hope for a better future filled with peace and prosperity and faith in one man's vision to escape a world of constant conflict and bring a diverse mix of beings together to live in harmony.
Birth is similar to many Utopian stories throughout the ages. How wonderful it would be to create and live in a society where everyone is equal, respected, and appreciated, despite their differences! What is unique about Birth is that it almost feels like a fairy tale, filled with humans, centaurs, dwarfs, trolls, brownies, and faeries, all working together to build a life that has no room for hate, prejudice, or malice.
But this adult fantasy isn't for children, even if it does have a dream-like quality to it. While the small portion of violence can be gruesome, and the sexual encounters between Witon and Belamay are somewhat explicit in the beginning, they don't dominate the story overly much.
The overall tone of Birth is one of peace and hope. Can this group of mixed species band together and actually create such an ideal society that is not based on greed and war? History tells us not really, but Birth might just hold the secret to a successful Utopia. After all, an abundance of magic fills the air, and the island itself is almost too good to be true in its offerings of food and other rather odd resources.
One thing that leads me to believe that this society might be doomed to failure (I hope not) is that the inhabitants of this lovely island are intent on repeating the practices of building separate villages (albeit based on their unique needs), erecting a wall to keep out predators, anointing a King to rule over them all, and populating an island that may one day become too small. But perhaps not. Did I mention all the magic and the quest for peace and goodwill? We will have to wait for the next book to find out if this group can thrive where so many other Utopian societies have failed....more
Watching You by Shannon Greenland is an engaging Young Adult thriller packed with romance, revenge, and a mysterious stalker who is definitely beyond Watching You by Shannon Greenland is an engaging Young Adult thriller packed with romance, revenge, and a mysterious stalker who is definitely beyond disturbed.
Viola is dead set on getting a top-notch education at Ponce de Leon Academy in Florida and then MIT. And if she has to fib a little bit on her scholarship application to get into the Academy, then so be it. I like the backgrounds that the author has created for both Viola and Reil. They are academically intelligent and resourceful, but they aren't rich or pampered like most of the students at the Academy. Viola and Reil scrimp and work and struggle to achieve their dreams. Viola comes from a dysfunctional family, and Reil is basically raising his 11 year-old sister, Mar. When Viola falls hard for Reil, she includes a spot in her heart for his sister. The dynamics between the three are touching and sweet, albeit a bit idyllic.
To offset that sweet romance, an all-around creeper is stalking Viola. If that isn't enough, Abbie, a rich girl with a chip on her shoulder, starts giving Viola jealousy-laden hell for spending so much time with Reil. It's quite the quandary because Abbie has connections (her rich daddy) and isn't above threatening Viola when she finds out she lied to get the Academy's scholarship. Viola just wants to get a good education and eventually a well-paying job to help her family, but she can't seem to stay out of the cross hairs of her enemies.
Ultimately, this story is about pursuing your dreams in the face of hardships, owning up to your missteps and lies, determining who your true friends are, and loving your family despite their shortcomings.
The pacing is super fast, as it should be for a thriller, and the mystery keeps getting mysterious until you are sucker-punched with a plot twist toward the end. It happens so suddenly, and then it's a speedy downhill ride to the finish. The Young Adult vibe is there, but a word of caution: While the relationship between Viola and Reil becomes sweet and romantic, a few titillating scenes may be a bit too steamy for the younger reader. Overall, this story is fun, with just enough mystery to keep you guessing and just enough action to keep you turning the page....more
Wheeler is an intense story about a strong female protagonist, Loren Mackenzie, who has mastered the art of professional cycling and who finds herselfWheeler is an intense story about a strong female protagonist, Loren Mackenzie, who has mastered the art of professional cycling and who finds herself caught up in the orbit of a famous and quite charming actor. But Loren's world isn't altogether a bed of roses. Her life is hectic and full of threats and dangers, not only with her past but her future as well.
Wheeler definitely spans genres: romance, thriller, suspense. You name it! While I'm not a cyclist by any stretch of the imagination, Wheeler put me firmly into that world and took me on one wild ride. I had no idea Women's Cycling could be so exhilarating!
The pacing and characterization in Wheeler are right on target, taking hold of the reader from the very first page. Loren is flawed yet strong; overwhelmed yet determined. All of the characters are well developed, and the overall story is unique and completely engaging.
The Shakespearean quotes are a plus, in my opinion, and I thoroughly recommend this intriguing and faced-paced story that will leave you completely breathless, as if you were the one doing all that cycling and romancing and everything else in between. Don't miss out!...more
The Year of the Knife is definitely a unique, fun, and fast-paced urban fantasy that will have you falling madly in love with Agent Sully. She has a cThe Year of the Knife is definitely a unique, fun, and fast-paced urban fantasy that will have you falling madly in love with Agent Sully. She has a certain spark that has nothing to do with her mad magic skills, although those are wickedly awesome. She does come across as completely abrasive and detached at times, but perhaps her in-your-face attitude is an attempt to compensate for her apparent small stature. Either way, she is feisty, quick witted, confident, and totally fearless. And she gets the job done, no matter who gets in the way.
All of the characters are completely engaging, and while The Year of the Knife has plenty of magical gore and gruesome mystery, it has has quite a bit of humor as well. Sully is quick with her snappy answers and retorts, and she has an abundance of bravado. The entire story is gripping and full of non-stop action!
The Year of the Knife has plenty of plot twists, but hold on to your seat as the story unfolds into its dramatic climax. You don't want to miss it!...more
Right from the first page, I realized that reading the first in the Lake Lanier Mysteries (Beneath the Lake) would have been a good idea. However, whiRight from the first page, I realized that reading the first in the Lake Lanier Mysteries (Beneath the Lake) would have been a good idea. However, while Beyond the Mist is a continuation of Book 1, you can still enjoy Book 2 on its own, once you acclimate yourself to the setting, characters, and circumstances.
Time travel is always an intriguing subject, but Casi McLean puts a unique spin on it. Beyond the Mist is filled with romance across time, a portal beneath a lake shrouded in mystery, and the opportunity to change the past.
But as in many books about time travel, the ripple effect of changing the past rears its unpredictable head. While the romance between Nick and Piper sweetens the deal, the overall story is dark, confusing, complex, and maybe even depressing. So many of us would love the chance to change the events on September 11, 2001 or any dark time in history. But as you will find in Beyond the Mist, slipping through that rip in time can create more consequences and mystery than what is expected, causing even more chaos and problems.
For me, at least, perhaps the real question isn’t how can we go backward in time to change the past, but how can we stop those ugly events from happening in the first place?...more
Thunderstruck is heavy with Norse Mythology, but having full knowledge in such things is certainly not needed to enjoy this fast-paced story.
ThunderstThunderstruck is heavy with Norse Mythology, but having full knowledge in such things is certainly not needed to enjoy this fast-paced story.
Thunderstruck is enjoyable and fun, with just enough plot twists to keep the reader engaged and turning the page to find out what happens next. Geared toward teens and maybe young adults, Thunderstruck has all the teen angst elements as most teen/young adult books but with a mythological twist. Gods living among us as teenagers? Well, that’s interesting.
The overall story is quite refreshing and modern, and Brenda Drake does a decent job weaving in the mythological characters without bogging down the plot. As an added bonus, Thunderstruck just may encourage the reader to run off and discover more about Norse Mythology.
As the main character, Stevie Moon certainly has some interesting flaws and issues that lend an air of believability to an otherwise fantastical story. For instance, she has a weak heart, and I’m not just talking about her feelings for Blake (aka Einar, the god posing as a teenage boy who has no clue how to actually behave as a teenager, making him quite endearing). Without providing spoilers, I will only say that Stevie is personally connected to this mythical world, and she finds herself embroiled in a real-live version of the comic heroes, heroines, villains, and other creatures that she loves so much. Kyle (aka Lajos, who is Einar’s brother) is my favorite. His character starts off completely annoying, but he definitely goes through some cracking good developments.
The ending chapters are almost too exciting, with action coming at you from all directions. I received an advanced copy from NetGalley.
***
"You don't look back unless you regret leaving."...more