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| 9781619228597
| B012CEIPLC
| 3.31
| 88
| Sep 22, 2015
| Sep 22, 2015
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. Th Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read. Opening Sentence: It was half a degree past freezing as Jillian stumbled across the snow-covered pavement. The Review: Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action. Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he. Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one. My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible. This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs. Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it. Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate. I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them. The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire. Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack. Notable Scene: Carrick rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What we have comes once in a lifetime. Why not give it a chance?” She blew out a hard breath. He still didn’t get it. “Maybe I will. I have to weigh the pros and cons.” She held out her hands like the halves of a scale. “My happiness versus the lives of my Pride.” He sat up with a shake of his head. “You’re thinking about it wrong. You need to balance our shot of surviving the Conclave, combined with our happiness, against maintaining the farce that will be the Pride if you choose Lucas.” Her frustration quickly turning to anger, she stared at him. “What are you getting at?” “You choose Lucas and you’re not just turning your back on me, you’re turning your back on our laws. You and Lucas will have to lie to maintain your positions. If the Pride finds out, pure-blood or half-blood, they’ll rebel against you.” FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing provided me with a copy of Dance with the Devil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. Merged review: Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read. Opening Sentence: It was half a degree past freezing as Jillian stumbled across the snow-covered pavement. The Review: Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action. Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he. Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one. My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible. This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs. Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it. Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate. I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them. The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire. Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack. Notable Scene: Carrick rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What we have comes once in a lifetime. Why not give it a chance?” She blew out a hard breath. He still didn’t get it. “Maybe I will. I have to weigh the pros and cons.” She held out her hands like the halves of a scale. “My happiness versus the lives of my Pride.” He sat up with a shake of his head. “You’re thinking about it wrong. You need to balance our shot of surviving the Conclave, combined with our happiness, against maintaining the farce that will be the Pride if you choose Lucas.” Her frustration quickly turning to anger, she stared at him. “What are you getting at?” “You choose Lucas and you’re not just turning your back on me, you’re turning your back on our laws. You and Lucas will have to lie to maintain your positions. If the Pride finds out, pure-blood or half-blood, they’ll rebel against you.” FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing provided me with a copy of Dance with the Devil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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B005SCS65Q
| 3.67
| 716
| Jul 10, 2012
| Sep 24, 2024
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Descriptive writing and multiple POV’s may distract but this book is filled with strong young women Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Descriptive writing and multiple POV’s may distract but this book is filled with strong young women and a beautiful message. Opening Sentence: In a city of gray stone and mist, between the steep rain-swept mountains and the sea, there lived a merchant with his eight daughters. The Review: House of Shadows is a standalone fantasy novel set in a ruthless magical world. I enjoyed many aspects of this world including the differing magical types and the Keisha but I had a really hard time getting into this book in the beginning. Rachel Neumeier has an incredibly descriptive type writing style which really helps with visualizing this world. House of Shadows is told through three different point of views. Each chapter is dedicated to one POV, hence my Chapter 3 roadblock. Chapters 1 and 2 flowed together but then Chapter 3 happened with a new character and situation that I got completely lost as to what was happening. It didn’t match any of the story so far and it through me off so much I didn’t comprehend what was going on. I just ended up powering through the chapter until things made sense again. Plus, it didn’t help that Chapter 3 was incredibly long and felt long, this was the chapter that also focused a lot on the world building. By the time I got to Chapter 4 with the girls’ storyline I forgot which “N” name was the main character. Nemienne and Narienneh were just too similar for me. As I’ve stated, House of Shadows is divided between the three different POVs. It starts with Nemienne. Her father has just died leaving her and her seven sisters orphaned. They are desperate to keep life as normal as possible and to keep the sisters from being separated. Unfortunately, if they want to keep their father’s house and business, two of the sister must be sold off. Nemienne was the first to reach this conclusion and knows that she holds no real value to the house, she just hopes that she can be worth enough to help out her sisters. Nemienne also has a gorgeous sister, Karah, whom they hope can be sold as a prized Keisha even though she is almost too old to become one. The sisters’ situation gets better when Nemienne is sold as a mage’s apprentice. Leilis is the next POV. Her character is a bit hard to describe but she lives at the Keisha house that bought Karah. She has a magical ailment that has kept her from becoming a Keisha but her situation has left her in a position to flitter through the house knowing everyone’s secrets and almost becoming like the head mistress herself. Leilis has the head mistresses ear and is able to influence some of the situations around the house. Taudde, the final POV, is a man whom has infiltrated the kingdom of Lirionne from the enemy kingdom of Kalches. He has plenty of secrets of his own including welding a different kind of magic than the mages of Lirionne, which is the whole reason he was drawn to this kingdom in the first place. He becomes an unwilling accomplice in a scheme he wants nothing to do with. Leilis was my favorite character in House of Shadows. She is assertive. She knows how to manipulate like a master (in this case, her powers were always used for good). She has learned to live with her curse and she doesn’t make excuses for anything. She understands where her power and position is best used and she uses it to the best of her ability. Nemienne is fifteen years old and is pretty wise about the world even if she is still a bit naïve and trusting. She knows she is pretty awful at basically everything so when she finds out about her affinity to magic she does give her all into practicing. Nemienne is a natural but she still struggles with learning how to control her powers. When the stories start to converge, she doesn’t stand still and make excuses, she makes sure she fights for the right outcome. Taudde is a young man whom is suffering from a bad decision. He has quite a story to tell so I don’t want to ruin it but I will say I was surprised by his strength of character in the end. And he is a really lucky bastard. He is just a right guy in the wrong place at the right time. I sadly had my issues with House of Shadows but overall it is a standalone that I would recommend. I really liked the world that was set up and I would have loved to see it expanded but as this book came out quite a few years ago, I doubt that will happen. I would have loved a sequel to see how one storyline wrapped up but that was more of a world issue. It would have had major implications for one of the characters. The women in this novel are great examples of strong young women (minus one bad apple of course). I really loved the message of love, family and doing the right thing that came out of the climactic scene. The novel wraps up most of the storylines but what it doesn’t you can just make up with your own imagination. Notable Scene: The pipes were beautiful. A fine example of the bard’s craft. Taudde had made too many sets of pipes to recall, but he couldn’t remember when he’d made better. But he could see the death they carried within their craftsmanship, and he could hardly stand to look at them. FTC Advisory: Orbit provided me with a copy of House of Shadows. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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0062347330
| 9780062347336
| 0062347330
| 3.69
| 3,238
| Aug 11, 2015
| Aug 11, 2015
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark times in 1918 America when the Spanish influenza and the Great War are taking too many lives. O Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark times in 1918 America when the Spanish influenza and the Great War are taking too many lives. Opening Sentence: I admit, I had seen a ghost or two. The Review: The Uninvited by Cat Winters is a book I’m having a hard time with trying to review. I’m scared I’m going to inadvertently spill something I shouldn’t. I love historical fiction but this is a time period that I don’t often read because I just don’t care much for American history. Sorry America! I couldn’t resist The Uninvited when I read that this was also a story involving ghosts. The Uninvited showcases the dark, ugly history of rural America in 1918, history that I wasn’t aware of or at least just don’t remember. It was a rough year for everyone. The women of Ivy’s family are cursed. They can see the ghosts of their dead loved ones. The unfortunate is that it always heralds the death of a loved one or someone close to them. Most recently, Ivy suffered a ghostly encounter just to learn that her brother Billy was killed in the Great War. The Uninvited begins shortly after that when Ivy’s father and younger brother brutally kill a German man in cold blood. Ivy has had enough of her father’s brutality and now that he has passed it on to her younger brother she can no longer stay in the house with them so she immediately packs up and leaves. Ivy is feeling better after her bout with the flu so she goes in search for a new place to stay in town. Ivy feels awful about the murder and wants to make amends to the German whose brother was killed by her family members. Ivy’s newfound freedom allows her to befriend quite a few townsfolk she hadn’t met by staying locked up in her parents’ house. As she is making friends, Ivy gets to know Wilhelm, the young man whose brother was murdered. Ivy and Wilhelm grow close even though associating with a German at that time could really hurt your reputation. As Ivy is getting to know Wilhelm, she meets three young ladies working for the Red Cross who are determined to help save the victims of the flu. I had a feeling I knew where this story was going but I was amazed by how it was all pulled off. I had questions all throughout the book but I can’t relay them here because they would ruin aspects of the novel. I had one final question where it finally dawned on me that all my other questions were irrelevant. The Uninvited is told entirely through Ivy’s first person point of view. Ivy is a bright young woman whom has always put her brothers before herself. Since her dad has abusive tendencies, she sticks around to make sure he isn’t harming anyone but her last straw was when he used her younger brother to kill an innocent man. In this man’s death, Ivy has finally found her freedom. She is willing to do the right thing and turn in her father and brother even though they would probably be seen as true American Patriots for killing an enemy of the country. She is willing to brave taking in flu patients for the Red Cross hoping that her own brief bout with the flu will keep her immune. She also takes a lot of risks for a young woman of that time. Overall, The Uninvited is a history lesson wrapped up in a ghost story. It is a dark, sad tale with an uplifting ending. (I may have cried a bit.) Whether you find this story predictable or not, you should still give The Uninvited a try. I really enjoyed the message and the take on… a certain subject that I’m not going to spoil. I Notable Scene: “You spend so much time worrying about people dying on and forgiving you”—he chased after me—“but nothing will ever change for you until you forgive everyone else—your father, your brother, me, yourself for not being strong.” “I am strong.” I hurried down the stairs with my feet thumping and skidding, and he followed. “You seem awfully weak right now, Ivy,” he said, “running away like this. You’re always running away, aren’t you? You didn’t hide out in your parents’ house for years because you were worried about your family. You worried about yourself in the big, bad world because emotions terrify you.” FTC Advisory: William Morrow/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of The Uninvited. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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9781474903028
| 1474903029
| 3.64
| 1,193
| Feb 01, 2016
| Feb 01, 2016
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really liked it
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, tragic contemporary sci fi about a girl and her struggles to live a normal life. Opening Sente Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, tragic contemporary sci fi about a girl and her struggles to live a normal life. Opening Sentence: I have grown in strength inside her. The Review: More of Me by Kathryn Evans is a contemporary science fiction standalone novel that took me by surprise. I wasn’t really sure what to expect but when the synopsis says she clones herself every year, I was intrigued and wanted to check it out. This novel is about a girl struggling with deep, dark secrets that could tear apart her entire family if people find out what she is going through. Teva is sixteen years old and struggling with things no young girl should ever have to go through. Every year Teva goes through a painful cloning process that splits her body in two. The new one having grown a year older while the younger one stays forever that age. She remembers everything that her younger selves have grown through before they separated. Unfortunately, her younger selves are only referred to as their numbers and are forced to stay on lockdown inside a creepy house because their mother knows the bad things will happen if they are forced into the light. The “new” Teva continues to go to public school as if nothing ever happened. More of Me starts with Teva separating from Fifteen and the painful process that they both went through before skipping to six months later as Teva is beginning to feel the “new” Teva crawling under her skin. It is too early for the process to begin. At the same time, Teva is stressing out over her college prospects because she knows her mom will never let her go. When she becomes Sixteen she knows her mom will never let her out of the house. Teva doesn’t want that future. She wants to be her own person with her own future without having to step aside for the new Teva. Teva begins to panic because she doesn’t want to separate and then she begins to think that she is crazy. Teva has to constantly put up with Fifteen her “sister” self. Fifteen hates Teva and believes she destroyed her life. Fifteen worked hard during her year, even having a boyfriend that she can’t get over and she hates that Teva gets to continue the relationship as if nothing happened, along with a best friend that they’ve passed along for quite a few cloning transitions. I feel like I’ve given a lot away in my own wrap up but I haven’t. There is so much going on with this story, including the fact that Teva has her own love interest. Don’t worry, it’s not a love triangle. This story kept me glued to the pages because I thought too that Teva might be going insane but there was too much to support that that wasn’t the case. I will say that I hated Teva’s mom because she was the aloof parent most of the time on the page constantly losing her cell phone to Fifteen even though she had so much control over her “daughters”. She kept too many secrets from the other Tevas under the disguise of what they don’t know won’t hurt them. It isn’t until the current Teva begins forcefully asking questions that she finally fesses up. More of Me is told entire through Teva (Sixteen)’s first person point of view. This story had the feel of a tragic fairy tale even though it is set in contemporary times. I felt for her. She has the usual selfishness of a teenager her age but also of someone who wants to be true to her “Sixteen” self, not her other sisters. She wants all of them to have a better life instead of hiding in what the town considers the creepy, Haunted house at the edge of town. I also hated Fifteen even though I knew I shouldn’t. She wanted what she thought was rightfully hers. (Even though I kept thinking that relationship will never go anywhere while Ollie grows up she will always been Fifteen.) I was NOT prepared for the ending. I cried and cried after what Teva went through. All the mysteries will be solved so I was happy having a definitive ending that didn’t leave me with questioning what exactly happened to Teva. If you want to laugh, if you want to cry, if you want something a little different from the science fiction community then definitely check this one out. Notable Scene: I had to think. I braced my legs, trying not to slip on the icy pavement, and walked as fast as I could. I pulled my hand out of my pocket. I could see the newly emerging finger as clearly as I could see my own knuckles. I traced the dip between the separating digits. I could feel them—feel them touching and being touched. I slid the fingers of my good hand protectively around the fingers of the bad and held them tight. My grip on the world was as light as a cobweb. Could I really have imagined them all? Was it possible? I could hear someone breathing heavily near me. I looked up, snapped my head left and right, behind me—fear send pinprick traces of panic dacing over my skin. There was no one there. It was me; the heavy breather was me. Was I insane? Was that it? Was that why I had a counselor, not a doctor? Choking on a ragged breath, I dug my phone from my pocket. I needed evidence. Real or not real. FTC Advisory: Abrams Publishing provided me with a copy of More of Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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0425251179
| 9780425251171
| 0425251179
| 4.31
| 21,256
| Oct 28, 2014
| Oct 28, 2014
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really liked it
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Uplifting but dark romance and awful tragedies abound while Ashwini and Janvier discover the murder Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Uplifting but dark romance and awful tragedies abound while Ashwini and Janvier discover the murder mystery in this 100% filler installment. Opening Sentence: Ashwini navigated the darkened stairwell with quick steps, careful not to make a sound. The Review: Archangel’s Shadows is set in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh and continues the saga of Raphael and Elena as they journey to root out evil in their world. I love this series and I will continue to sing its praises but I will say that Archangel’s Shadows felt like a novella with added side stories and point of views to flesh it out into a bigger novel. As a fan, I loved everything about this novel. It was great to see Janvier and Ashwini again! But as a reviewer, this novel was pure filler, nothing really monumental happens. It doesn’t really advance the ongoing storyline too much except for allowing the “bad guy” to recover. Ashwini and Janvier previously met in a novella where we discovered their scorching hot attraction to each other even though Ashwini is hunting Janvier down for a contract dispute. Their connection has always been followed by fireworks but Ash has always been holding back and now we finally get the story as to why. A few months have passed since the deadly archangel/angel/unborn battle in New York City. The city is still recovering when a dead body turns up look like it had been killed by Lijuan, the deadly archangel with the power over the undead. Is it possible that Lijuan is still in New York City trying to return to her once deadly form? Raphael and his crew had really hoped that she died but archangels are stubbornly immortal. Ashwini and Janvier have been tasked with uncovering who is behind to the mysterious death before the people of New York City find out that their city isn’t safe and secure. Ashwini has the typical tragic past that you can come to expect with a Nalini Singh story and secrets that she keeps close to her heart. Ash is someone who is used to being alone in order to hide her secrets. She doesn’t like to open to her heart because she knows only bad things can happen with those emotions. She is extremely dedicated to her job and is very good at what she does. She wants to explore her relationship with Janvier but she keeps letting her mind get in the way. I knew exactly how her storyline would end, I was surprised by the completely 100% tragic way it happened. Janvier is one happy, sexy Cajun vampire. He is extremely charismatic and can sweet talk anybody. He is one of my favorite vampires from this series. He isn’t dark and broody at all unless he’s being spurned by Ashwini, it is about the only thing that upsets him. He is very dedicated to Ashwini and waiting for when she is ready to tell him her secrets. My only disappointment was that the heated romance took too long and then was short lived because too many other side things were happening with this book. Archangel’s Shadows jumps around to many different point of views mainly including Elena and Raphael. We get to see what changes Raphael is making to ensure the safety of his people and how he knows Lijuan is just biding her time until she comes back for another attack. Elena is discovering the secrets of the Primary and the leather winged angels while also having to get along with Raphael’s mother whom has come to town for a visit. Overall, the murder storyline is graphic and brutal, one of the toughest I’ve read in a while. I love how this series is constantly expanding. If you love paranormal romance or urban fantasy, definitely check out this series. Nalini Singh has a knack for writing emotional characters and scenes that it is really hard not to cry when reading one of her novels. I can’t wait to read Nassir’s novel next, she definitely teases with it during this novel. Notable Scene: Her already brittle heart threatened to shatter. “You don’t know what I’m keeping from you.” “I don’t need to know—and neither one of us has ever been in control of the thing between us. It has its own stubborn, relentless will” He thrust one hand into his hair, began walking again, his next words so angry the heat of them seemed to melt the snow. “The only way it would die would be if you repudiated me.” Stopping again, the two of them now on the fringe of the Quarter, he faced her. “Is that what you want to do?” His tone was raw, his hands fisted. “To tell me that you don’t want me?” “You’re an idiot.” Hauling him to her by gripping the open sides of his jacket, she kissed him in frustrated fury. “I’m trying to protect you.” She released him, strode off ahead. He caught up to her, his eyes bright with temper and passion both. “Well, don’t. I’m a big vampire. I can handle any secret you have as long as you’re mine.” “Damn you.” She slipped her left hand into his right. “You’ll regret this.” He wrapped his fingers around hers, the hold blatantly proprietary. “I will never regret you!” Ashwini would never regret him, either. And she knew. No more secret, no more stealing time. She had to tell him, show him, everything. FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Archangel’s Shadows. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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Mar 10, 2018
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1466871911
| 9781466871915
| B071L5X3LN
| 3.84
| 1,650
| Jan 16, 2018
| Jan 16, 2018
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it was amazing
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A new badass woman is introduced in Attia in this gender flipped take on Spartacus. Blood and Sand Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A new badass woman is introduced in Attia in this gender flipped take on Spartacus. Blood and Sand is a dark, enthralling, tragic book that I didn’t want to put down! Opening Sentence: They called them slaves. The Review: Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk is an intriguing, emotional story set in the time of the Roman Empire. I highly recommend Blood and Sand for any fan of Spartacus (especially the TV show) and for anyone who may have found the Roman Empire fascinating. I loved the gender twist of how the author made Spartacus a mysterious woman and how all of that was set up. The Roman Empire was a truly awful place and Blood and Sand definitely reminds you of that. Attia is a Thracian Princess, as a descendant of Sparta, she has grown up learning the abilities of an excellent warrior. She is a bit on the small side but she makes up for it in strength and speed. Attia’s skills have already been put to the test many times before the Romans attack and destroy her kingdom along with killing her father. Attia is forced to become a slave and is sold to an ambitious nobleman, Timeus, to be the companion for his Champion, Xanthus. Xanthus is done. He is tired of being a gladiator and he’s even more tired of the killing. He gets a new lease on life when he finds out he now controls the destiny of Attia. He knows what will happen if he steps out of line. It doesn’t take long for Xanthus to figure out Attia’s background. He sees the fire in her and it doesn’t take long for him to develop an attachment to Attia that he knows is now a weakness. Attia is thoughtful and cunning. She thinks out her actions before she does them, even if she is sure that they may not end up with the outcome she’s wanting but she’s still going to try. Attia wants revenge for her father’s death and for the fall of the Thracians. She is willing to bid her time because there are several steps that she wants completed before whatever happens to her will happen. Blood and Sand is a dark book in atmosphere and theme. The Roman Empire thrived on slaves and killing and this book takes no liberties with that, it really isn’t graphic but it is discussed. There is also abuse. From the beginning of reading, I knew this would be a tragic book. There are no happy endings during this time frame, I kept reading hoping for one though. This was one book I never wanted to put down. The author does come straight out and say that she took liberties with the timeline. I’m glad she did that because I would have been disappointed when I looked up that information later since I am fascinated with world history. I found it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book, it made me wish that this series of events had actually happened. Although, I would have wished for a happier ending… on that note, is Blood and Sand a standalone or the beginning of a badass new woman in YA? The ending felt like the beginning of something so I’m really hoping there is more to Attia’s story but this story would still make a great standalone. I do still have some questions so I really hope there is a sequel. (Update: After writing this I found out there is a sequel!) Notable Scene: “Attia?” The exhaustion vanished as his face contorted. “What are you doing here?” Attia grasped his tunic, belatedly realizing that he wore no armor. “I couldn’t let you do this alone.” “You need to leave—“ “No, I can help,” Attia said. “I . . . I don’t want to lose you.” “And how do you think I’ll feel if you die here? You have to leave.” “I won’t.” Xanthus released a heavy breath, his eyes never leaving her face. “Together,” he said, and raised their clasped hands into the air. FTC Advisory: Tor Teen provided me with a copy of Blood and Sand. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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1250129125
| 9781250129123
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| 3.61
| 112
| Jul 03, 2017
| Jul 03, 2017
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Super sweet (and hot!) story about a trio of childhood friends who grow up to become lovers. Opening Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Super sweet (and hot!) story about a trio of childhood friends who grow up to become lovers. Opening Sentence: “Ah, bliss . . .” Liv Tyner sipped her mai tai while taking in the cloudless sky and the breathtaking coastal inlet and harbor sprawled before her. The Review: Addiction by Calista Fox is a novella set in the Bayfront Billionaires series and continues to follow the wealthy and sexy residents of Bayfront, California as they find their true loves. This novella is super sweet and happy. For me, a little too much. If you want to read something sweet, happy and super-hot then check this novella out. This story is definitely on the lighter side compared to the previous book in the series, Obsession. Liv, Nate, and Tristan are childhood friends and were nearly inseparable as they grew up but after high school Liv became a Hollywood star while Nate and Tristan worked on their growing business empire and their physique. This novella is a homecoming of sorts because Nate and Tristan haven’t been back in quite a while (and their appearance has changed so much that people they went to high school don’t recognize them anymore). Liv has been thinking A LOT about the threesome she had with the guys back in Paris five years ago and seeing them is bringing back memories that she might want to relive again. Addiction is a story about what you want in life and where you want to go. The story is in its own way heavy but it felt more light as a story overall. I don’t want to say too much more on the story since this is a novella but it does tie in with the characters from previous books. You don’t have to have read the previous books to enjoy this one but prior knowledge of the secondary characters might be a plus. Nate and Tristan are stepbrothers (although I missed the background so I don’t know if that was revealed in a previous book) and they only have two goals in mind. One is to build up their business empire so they can fit in with the area where they grew up and second is to transform their physical appearance so they can be worthy of Liv. Nate and Tristan felt they needed to work on their looks because they felt they needed to look good for Liv, especially by lifting weights. So I honestly just felt kind of “meh” towards these guys but they are totally goal oriented. Liv is used to being on her own and traveling the world whenever she wants. She is a bit lonely but she knows what she wants to do in life and is working on that goal. Her plans get derailed when she realizes what could be with her best friends. Liv seems to be an overly optimistic type person and generally happy but I also just felt kind of “meh” about her too. I don’t think I was in quite the right frame of mind to read this novella only because I kept getting annoyed by how perfect these three characters were. They just seemed so happy and perfect for each other. They guys never had an issue with one being favored over another or anything, everything just seemed strangely serene between them when it came to Liv. I also felt the major conflict between these characters wasn’t a conflict at all. I know what I would have chosen. I actually feel like she would have more problems settling down than traveling since she travels all the time for work. (But that could be me projecting my own feelings towards what she initially wanted to do.) This novella was an okay read for me but I could definitely see where others may enjoy it more. Notable Scene: Liv frowned. What a double-edged sword she was suddenly balanced on the tip of. Just thinking of another go-round with her menage lovers sent a wave of anticipation and excitement washing over her. But what if it was only meant to be a one-time thing and the cosmic forces subsequently conspired against them for greedily reenacting the guilty pleasure? Damn. For so long, she’d have savored the memory of Nate and Tristan taking turns with her, but had always considered it “something that had just happened.” Not “something that could happen . . . again.” FTC Advisory: SMP Swerve provided me with a copy of Addiction. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| 1,918
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Middle eastern take on Cinderella with a hint of Rapunzel, but ultimately the slow pacing kept me f Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Middle eastern take on Cinderella with a hint of Rapunzel, but ultimately the slow pacing kept me from enjoying this novel as much as the first, A Thousand Nights. Opening Sentence: We know exactly how we came to these cold, hard mountains, and we remember everything that we have lost since we arrived here. The Review: Spindle by E.K. Johnston is a companion novel to A Thousand Nights and both novels are based off of famous stories, 1001 Nights and Cinderella. If you haven’t checked out these books yet, they are middle-eastern inspired twists to the original work with some added paranormal elements. (I know 1001 Nights is already middle-eastern but Cinderella is not.) I really enjoyed the different settings and culture that was portrayed. I loved A Thousand Nights but I just found Spindle to be an okay read. The story was really slow, the ending rushed and I just had a hard time seeing spinning as an addiction. Spindle is set many years past the events of A Thousand Nights. The first book is referenced quite a few times as Spindle deals with some of the descendants of A Thousand Nights. Overall, I don’t feel like you have to have read A Thousand Nights but I do feel like you would get the references better if you did. (Plus, I loved the spin of A Thousand Nights. So definitely check it out!) Spindle is told through the story of a young man named Yaasha from the country of Kharuf. He was a young boy when the Little Rose was cursed by a demon. He wasn’t even present at the event so he has to rely on stories from others to tell his story. At five years old, Little Rose was bestowed gifts and a curse because a demon decided that it wanted Little Rose as the perfect host when her body was ready to receive its essence. Like the original story, Little Rose is given a way out but it isn’t pleasant and, of course, involves a spindle. The demon makes sure that any spinners in the country will get deathly ill because it has to make sure that Little Rose can’t touch a spindle. Yaasha’s story is about his mother, whom used to work as the top spinner at the court, and all the other spinners are effectively banished from the country and have to leave but they aren’t accepted in, Qamth, the country they seek safely in. His mother wants Yaasha to go on a quest to find the King of the country where they are seeking asylum and see if he can talk him into accepting all the foreign spinners. Yaasha decides to not go that route, he decides his best step is to find Little Rose and see if they can end the curse through her so that his mother can become a great spinner again and survive the wasting disease that is killing all the spinners from their home country. There are portions of this story that I had some really issues with especially the spinning issue. Yaasha hated spinning but in the way he tells the story it is almost an addiction for some of the side characters. Their fingers are constantly moving like they are spinning but they can’t because they will get sick. In their home country, spinning makes them sick but it temporarily relieves their insanity too. Spinning is needed for employment but also for clothing that the country is running out of. Another issue I had was that this story just felt slow. Most of the story was told on the road during a journey that the characters didn’t really have any grasp of because they had a hard time deciding where to go and what to do. Little Rose is an enigma all her own. I loved her attitude and her spunk. She loves her country and she hates what the demon has forced down upon everyone but to give up would leave herself vulnerable to the demon so she makes sure that doesn’t happen. Little Rose is forced to not learn anything because learning or “making” as the book keeps calling it will open Little Rose for the demon to use as it wishes. Learning things will help make Little Rose the proper host for the demon because the demon doesn’t want to fall into the same trap as the last powerful demon did in A Thousand Nights. I’m very conflicted over the ending because in one sense I found the ending perfect (and beautiful) but I was also severely disappointed in it. I guess I was just hoping for something else but you can’t really change the ending of Cinderella, just some of the events surrounding it. The ending was rushed. All the major crazy events I was looking forward to happened in the last ten pages and was basically summed up through Roses’ point of view. Overall, Spindle is a wonderfully creative book but fell a little flat of A Thousand Nights. I enjoyed the spin that E.K. Johnston wove with this tale. I had a few issues with why it seemed like spinning was an addiction (my guess is the demon messed with people’s heads that way) and really slow going. Reading the story, I had no idea where she was going with the ending and then having it wrap up so quickly didn’t help. If you are looking for something diverse and different in an old-fashioned fairy tale, I would still tell you to try this series because you may enjoy it better than I did. So please, give it a try! Notable Scene: “I should know so many things,” she said. “I should be able to bake bread, even though my kitchens will always have a bread mistress. I should know how to weave a tapestry and write a trade agreement. I should know, but I can’t. I was born and bred to do these things, and my heart cries out for them, and I can’t. I cannot make anything. Every stitch, every note, every letter, and every dance step would prepare me for the demon’s curse, and spinning would seal it. And I cannot take the piskey’s gift. I would sleep forever, but the demon would be free–the curse would remain unbroken–and then my kingdom, my people, would be queenless and cursed, both.” FTC Advisory: Disney-Hyperion provided me with a copy of Spindle. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| 4.10
| 2,387
| Jun 27, 2017
| Jun 27, 2017
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really liked it
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, deadly, dangerous and beautiful. A vengeful cop and a mobster bring the heat in this thrillin Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, deadly, dangerous and beautiful. A vengeful cop and a mobster bring the heat in this thrilling romance set in Vegas. Opening Sentence: It began like every other day in Vegas. The Review: The dark, dirty world of the Vegas Mafia is the setting for the Ruin & Revenge series by Sarah Castille. Luca is the second book and follows Nico’s ruthless crime boss Luca Rizzoli and police detective Gabrielle Fawkes. If you are a fan of the dark stories where the women bring out the wee bit of a soft side in their men then this is definitely a book and series for you to check out. This novel can be read as a standalone even though the events at the beginning tie into the first book, Nico, you don’t really need to know about anything that happens in it to understand what is going on in this book. Luca picks up not too long after the events in Nico. After saving Nico’s life, Luca ends up in the hospital where he meets his golden angel Gabrielle. There is something about her that he just finds alluring even though she is the complete opposite of the type of woman he is normally attracted. Luca owns an Italian restaurant but he is also a crime boss for Nico. Luca is used to killing people to help his crime family, but when he meets Gabrielle, a woman bent on killing a certain man, knowing that she could never kill anyone (or at least shouldn’t have too), he decides to help her on her quest. Unfortunately, police and mafia don’t mix so if Nico should ever find out about their arrangement one or both of them could be killed. Luca is a lady’s man. He has already done his Italian heritage marriage and he doesn’t plan to do that again so he has an endless stream of one-night stands. Gabrielle is one that he originally thought would be a one and done but there is something about her he just can’t get enough of. Luca knows he is signing his own (and possibly Gabby’s) death warrant if he continues to pursue a relationship with her. I believe he can tell how torn up she is on the inside and he is helping her to open up to new experiences, even if those experiences are solved with kinky sex. Being a part of the Mafia, Luca has a lot of rules he must follow and with Gabby he’s breaking a lot of those rules. Gabrielle is a broken woman. Revenge has been the only thing on her mind for the past two years. She knows who brutally killed her husband and she will do everything she can to stop that man, including dying herself as long as that man goes down with her. Gabrielle knows that Luca isn’t being entirely truthful with her but she doesn’t push it. She also knows he’s hiding a dark secret of his own and she believes that she can crack it. I hate to play the comparison card but at the beginning of this novel I just kept imagining that Luca was Lucifer and Gabrielle was Chloe from the TV show Lucifer. Mainly because of Luca’s fascination with his suits/one-night stands and Gabrielle because she was blonde, a cop and having to deal with being a female in a naturally male driven profession. They have a reluctant partnership at first but not like they do in the show. Sorry, I’m a huge fan of this show so it really bled into how I saw these characters. Luca is Lucifer just without the accent. Overall, there are some really dark tones and themes in this series. There are a lot of deaths, a few told graphically that may turn off some readers. There are four different POVs throughout this book. Luca is intriguing and action-packed and even though I had a pretty good idea of the twist I still didn’t imagine it in its entirety. The bad guy is one evil, effed up dude. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Luca and Gabrielle. I was really surprised how much I liked this book since I have kind of been turned off the death and destruction front lately. Notable Scene: “I can give you what you want,” Luca said to Gabrielle, thinking quickly. “You want Garcia. I can make it happen.” She was an intelligent woman, a police detective. She’d start asking questions about him already. But now, Little Ricky was hanging butchered in his meat freezer, and no one was planning to call the cops. He had no doubt she would find her way to the truth about who he was and what he did. “The way you were going to make sure Clint didn’t hurt Nicole again?” “Yes.” She twisted her lips to the side, considering. “Clint only spent twelve hours in jail,” she said finally. “He was fined two hundred dollars and he has to do some community service. No counseling. No anger management. He’s walking around and Nicole still has bruises, not to mention the damage inside that no one can see. I saw it all the time when I worked the beat. We were called to the same houses again and again. It never bothered me before, but it does now.” “Your system doesn’t always work.” He kept his gaze on Frankie as he spoke. The enforcer had his own methods when it came to protecting the family, and Luca had no doubt he would shoot first and deal with the repercussions later if Gabrielle said anything that caused him concern. “I thought it did. I thought I could make a difference. But it seems the harder I fight, the faster I fall.” The resignation in her voice and her defeated tone speared through him, ramping up a fear that she didn’t care anymore if she lived or died. But he cared. So much that he didn’t know if he could recover if he lost her. He’d cared about Gina, but this longing for something impossible, a forbidden love, was a tidal wave compared to the tear she’s left behind. “Not if we work together.” FTC Advisory: St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan provided me with a copy of Luca. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| 3.59
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| Jun 13, 2017
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really liked it
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: High fantasy novel where five people’s lives are entwined with the future of the empire. Opening Sen Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: High fantasy novel where five people’s lives are entwined with the future of the empire. Opening Sentence: They used to be fishermen, but that night hunger made them thieves. The Review: Soleri is the beginning of an epic high fantasy series that felt like an extraordinary cross of Ancient Egypt, Stargate and Game of Thrones. Although a case can be made that Ancient Egypt also shows up in Stargate while this novel has all that just minus the space travel. I didn’t really know what to expect going into this novel and for a beginning book, there is plenty going on and a huge cast of characters that are all tied together in a way that I won’t reveal for spoilers. The Solerian Empire has been ruled over by an alien race for the last two thousand years. There have been many wars over the years because this is not a peaceful empire. The empire is split up between different ruling kingdoms and native areas that are constantly fighting. About two hundred years ago, the Tolemy decided they needed to take the children of the kingdoms and force them to grow up together at the Priory so they don’t grow up with their kingdom’s secrets, suspicions and plots to carry on when they gain the throne. This story is full of devious, secret plots and it kept me guessing from beginning to end. There is definitely much more to how this empire operates because each area has its own set of rules and traditions. There is one thing that is consistent, the solar eclipse that happens once a year and when that fails, all hell breaks out for the ruling empire. The cast of characters is huge but the story really only follows five people who are all connected. There is a mysterious sixth POV that starts out the story and then is long forgotten in the story that these five people tell. King Arko Hark-Wadi is never one for the rules, he hates the Tolemy, and the First Ray of the Sun, but he also isn’t one for confrontation. He ignores all celebrations for the solar eclipse. In a way, I found Arko similar to Ned Stark, he is very loyal to his family but in the end, he is a depressed drunk who has been played by more people than he’s realized. Arko is someone I really wanted to care for but I think I spent most of the time feeling sorry for him instead. Arko’s son, Ren, has been released from the Priory in exchange for his father’s life because no one is released from the Priory without their father’s dying first. Ren is a thirteen-year-old boy who is forced to rule a kingdom he knows nothing about. Unlike most boys, Ren does get to meet his father briefly before Arko is sent to his death and gains some valuable advice. I believe Ren to be one of the heroes of this story. He is the one character that is really put through some terrible trials and he seems the most grounded of the characters, if not a bit immature but he is thirteen after all. The ladies of this novel are a wee bit harder to handle. I kept thinking of both Sarra and Merit as Cersei type characters. These ladies are devious with their own plots to further both of their places in society. Sarra wants to be the First Ray of the Sun, the one who is in direct contact with the Tolemy (ruling alien) and Merit just wants her father’s kingdom. These ladies are very selfish. Then there is Kepi, she’s very Arya Stark, she’s learned to be a warrior through her own terrible past. She’s the pawn in a much larger plot, one that she knows is coming and there is nothing she can do about it. I really can’t wait to see where her story goes and I’m really hoping that Kepi and Ren get together and take everyone else out. Soleri is a hugely intricate high fantasy story with such devious plot points and twists that I really did have no idea where the story was going. I may not like all the characters in this book but I am deeply interested to see where their stories go as this series goes on. If you are a fan of fantasy novels with intricate, tangled plots and a world with a future as bleak as its landscape then you should definitely give this story a try. Notable Scene: When he finished, Arko looked up at the boy and asked, “What about me? Do you remember anything at all about your father?” The boy shook his head. “No. I suppose you wouldn’t. I suppose there isn’t much you’d care to remember, about any of us. . .” Arko dropped the scroll into the dust and picked up the reins of his horse. “It appears the emperor had made a trade. He has returned my heir so I must take your place, but not in the Priory. The emperor demands an audience with me.” He nodded at his son, his boy. Years had been stolen from them, and years would be stolen from them still. FTC Advisory: Tor/Macmillan provided me with a copy of Soleri. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| 4.40
| 15,447
| Oct 31, 2017
| Oct 31, 2017
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it was amazing
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Charley must stop Reyes before those closest to her get hurt in his hunt to find whatever it is he Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Charley must stop Reyes before those closest to her get hurt in his hunt to find whatever it is he is looking for. Opening Sentence: Few things in life were more entertaining than haunted houses. The Review: Charley Davidson’s crazy, all-over-the-place antics continue in The Trouble with Twelfth Grave. This time Charley has the added benefit of hunting down her really hot husband who may have turned back into the evil god he once was. I really look forward to her strange sense of humor and the chuckle I get from whenever I read this series. The Trouble with Twelfth Grave picks up immediately after Eleventh Grave in Moonlight and the aftermath of Reyes going into the god glass. Did Reyes turn into his ultimate evil self? Charley refuses to believe it but after bodies turn up killed in strange ways, Charley has to prove that it isn’t Reyes killing these people. Reyes is searching for something and Charley is forced to stop him before he finds whatever it is he is looking for. As things go with this series, Charley is solving more than one crime at a time with her outside the box antics which definitely keep me guessing how she’s going to solve one problem after another. Charley’s friend Peri is in trouble when one of her ex-boyfriends ends up dead and all signs point to her as being the killer. Charley concocts a plan that helps to clear Peri’s name while at the same time trying to uncover the real killer. There is a lot more interaction between the angels and Charley in the hunt for Reyes. A prophet has also been writing stories about Charley and Reyes that may even give her some insight into her troubles with Reyes. Charley is hilarious and crazy but at the same time she is so down to earth for what she is. Her methods to solve her cases are so unorthodox but incredibly fun and crazy. Reyes is even more dark and dangerous than usual. His struggle with his dark side leaves some crazy times for Charley. I hate to say that this felt like a filler novel but it really did. Although, major stuff happens on the Reyes storyline that really helps move that part of the story along. I talk about how funny I find these novels but there are some sobering moments throughout the story too. The ending has a major cliffhanger. In the end, The Trouble with Twelfth Grave has it all in terms of fun, craziness, sadness and heartfelt situations. If you don’t mind humor that may be a little low brow at times, other times very clever, you should really check out this unique Grim Reaper series. Notable Scene: He practically scowled in response, clearly disgusted with me. “You’re still in love with him,” he said, his gaze boring into mine. “You believe that somewhere inside me is your Reyes. Your Rey’aziel.” He pulled me closer. “But what you don’t understand is that I was always lurking.” He clamped his free hand around my other arm. “I am not Reyes.” He pulled me close enough to see the sparkling flecks of green and gold in his coffee-colored eyes. “I am not Rey’aziel.” He walked forward, pushing me until he’d backed me into a wall of some kind. A rock, its sharp edges cutting into my skin. “I am Rey’azikeen.” He tightened the vise-like grip he had on my arms. “A god, even stronger now, thanks to you.” FTC Advisory: St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan provided me with a copy of The Trouble with Twelfth Grave. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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0544765575
| 9780544765573
| 0544765575
| 3.61
| 531
| Jul 18, 2017
| Jul 18, 2017
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really liked it
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Mysterious, dark story that is full of secrets and an awful mother. Opening Sentence: Witchtown look Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Mysterious, dark story that is full of secrets and an awful mother. Opening Sentence: Witchtown looks more like a prison than a town. The Review: Fans of witches just may enjoy this modern-day story set in contemporary times. Witchtown is set a few years after the Second Inquisition where Witches have been forced to register and/or live in Havens. I found Witchtown to be an entertaining read set in a world that could unfortunately be very realistic whether towards witches or some other group. The premise of this books follows Macie O’Sullivan and her awful mother Aubra. Don’t read this if you don’t like books with unsupportive mothers. As far back as Macie can remember, she and her mother, Aubra, have run cons throughout the Havens that are dotted across the states. Her mother likes to rob the Haven’s blind and since she is a witch she casts a forget spell so the Haven’s never remember who robbed them. Aubra likes to use her daughter Macie as a tool for distraction, although Aubra can be pretty distracting herself. Witchtown is supposed to be the final con for Aubra and Macie. The town is supposed to have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. What they find in Witchtown is far from the rumors they have heard about the place and robbing it may be more difficult than they thought. As Macie infiltrates Witchtown she learns that the town and the people have even more crazy secrets than she does, and she’s got a lot! Aubra is your typical evil mother. She uses Macie and has no problem putting her down. Aubra uses her body to distract the men and get whatever secrets she needs. She is a really awful person. She may be a little much for the younger teen reader. Macie is the character who knows she’s doing bad things but is willing to do whatever it takes to keep getting her mother’s continued love. Macie had a terrible experience with her last job and is now having doubts about what her and her mother are doing. I felt that Macie was a bit abrasive in the beginning, she certainly had no problem passing judgement on some of the other characters, but she begins to learn lessons that drastically begin to change her state of mind. There is a “love” connection between Macie and a guy in Witchtown that I really had a hard time buying just for the sake that he tried to kiss her after only interacting with her for a short while. Plus, Macie has this unrequited love thing going on for another boy. A boy that she keeps remembering in flashbacks. Then all of a sudden, she’s over him… that was honestly my only real issue with this novel. Witchtown is told entirely in the first person from Macie’s point of view. It is a contemporary story but it is hard to tell at times since Witchtown doesn’t like to use modern conveniences. The story has more of a mystery feel with some paranormal elements thrown in. Overall, Witchtown is a mysterious, dark story with a protagonist with many secrets that rival the town she hopes to rob with her mother. There are aspects of this story that I could certainly see turned into a sequel but otherwise this is a standalone novel. This novel read very quickly as secrets are unveiled just as quickly as more secrets are unleashed on the main character. Notable Scene: My mother introduced herself, and me, and Pendle Bishop gave no sign that she had ever seen us before. Once, I thought I caught her looking at my moonstone. But at second glance, I saw that her eyes were so cloudy and unfocused it was a wonder she could see anything at all. Even with the thick glasses. Eventually, she puttered away. My mother flashed me an “I told you so” expression just as the mayor reemerged from her office. “A job,” my mother reminded me, lowering her voice. “By tomorrow.” Then she smiled and tossed something at me. I caught it. I didn’t even need to look to know that it was Pendle Bishop’s wallet. “Easy as that,” my mother trilled, then winked as she turned to meet the mayor. “Darkness and clouds!” “Darkness and clouds,” I muttered at her back. FTC Advisory: HMH Books for Young Readers provided me with a copy of Witchtown. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| 3.72
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, creative time travel novel that was a refreshingly unique read. Opening Sentence: Dad tells me Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, creative time travel novel that was a refreshingly unique read. Opening Sentence: Dad tells me the wood is not a place to play. The Review: The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski was surprising and refreshing read for me. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the storyline and how different it is from a lot of the stories that I have been reading. I think I was expecting a historical novel along the lines of The Village movie but nope. The Wood is a contemporary young adult novel that deals with elements of time travel and immortal beings. There are some creepy/scary elements of the wood itself but I wouldn’t say this was a scary novel because those elements are pretty few and far between. For over a thousand years, Winter’s family has been guardian of the wood. The guardianship comes with many responsibilities, the main one being that Winter must send back any traveler who makes it into her wood back to the time from which they came. There are quite a few portals from which a traveler can become lost but not too many that Winter can’t figure out their time period and location. The consequences of a wandering traveler can be devastating for time, history and the traveler especially if they die somewhere they weren’t supposed to die. Several years have passed since Winter’s father was lost in the wood. She still holds out hope that her father is alive. Strange things begin to happen in the wood including a peculiar boy named Henry who says he will keep coming back. This boy seems to know things about the wood that he shouldn’t know. Eventually he says something that really gets to Winter and she allows him to stay because the woods are now showing signs of decay. Henry just may be the key for Winter to learn the truth about her father’s disappearance and why the leaves in the woods are turning black. Winter is a character that I certainly didn’t connect with but I had no problems feeling sorry for her and her situation. She wants to be as normal a girl as she can, while she can, but as long as she’s guardian of the woods she has to keep secrets. One of the things that got to me was that Winter can never go too far from her wood, she can’t ever travel or even travel a couple of miles to the beach. She’s always on call (except at night when it is too dangerous to enter the wood). She’s super smart, knows many languages because she must communicate with travelers when they come through. Winter has a loyal best friend whom I felt was treated bad but I also completely understand that Winter always has to keep the biggest secret from her, the wood. Winter is also quite strong willed, even as she knows she’s falling in love with Henry (with someone she doesn’t have to hide from) she knows he must go back. She’s upset but she takes it in stride. There are quite a few elements to this story that really did surprise me. Winter does have an aloof mom at times. Her mom is still deeply grieving even if it has been a few years since her husband disappeared. But Winter’s mom is there when it really matters, even if she can’t enter the woods herself. She does nag Winter a bit about her responsibilities but she knows Winter cannot stay away from the wood. The other element that completely surprised me and yet made the sap in me sad was Henry. He wanted to help Winter but he also needed to find his own parents. His agreement to stay was that he would do anything she asked of him. He does have an 18th century gentility while understanding that this new world is completely strange. Winter tries to keep as much of it a secret as she can because he must go back to his own time when all of this is done. I kept thinking that Henry was going to do something bad or at least have some nasty secret of his own but he never did. Henry was who and what he said he’d be and that was very exciting to me because I’m a bit tired of the backhandedness of some characters. The Wood is told in the first person perspective of Winter. The storytelling often jumps back and forth in time between Winter now and when Winter was training to be a guardian with her father. The story has some dark elements but it really isn’t creepy. It is a weird type of science fiction with time travel where the main character never actually leaves her contemporary time. I liked the mystery aspect of the story overall, it wasn’t so much action packed but more a mystery. Notable Scene: “You’re asking me to break the most important rule of the wood,” I say. “The rule that isn’t even spoken because it should be known, without question. The rule that encapsulates my entire purpose as a guardian.” No traveler can ever pass through a threshold into a time that is not their own. “Yes, I am asking that of you, but I am also telling you, if you do not let me through into your time and work with me to discover the truth of what is happening here, there may no longer be a wood for you to protect.” His Adam’s apple rolls down his throat. “There may no longer be a world for you to protect.” FTC Advisory: Feiwel & Friends /Macmillan provided me with a copy of The Wood. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| Jan 17, 2017
| Jan 19, 2017
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A dark novella where the supernatural world of the Chicagoland vampires only gets stranger. Opening Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A dark novella where the supernatural world of the Chicagoland vampires only gets stranger. Opening Sentence: “There is no torture so sweet, no punishment so sublime, as the couple’s wedding shower.” The Review: Phantom Kiss by Chloe Neill is a novella set in the Chicagoland Vampires series. This novella is a nice look into the ghostly aspect of this supernatural world. I really enjoyed having Annabelle, the necromancer, back for this spooky tale. I have been intrigued with her since she showed up in the last novel. I really want to know more about her and her powers. Two months have passed since Merit and company went up against the Alchemist. It has also been two months since Ethan’s proposal. As the beginning of this novella, we get to see Merit and Ethan having a semi normal life even if it is hanging out with Merit’s family for their wedding shower. The night is going as well as it can until the moment Merit gets a phone call about something funny going on at a graveyard. Annabelle informs Merit that someone has been grave robbing at a cemetery that she has been investigating. Alarmed by this news, Merit has to make sure that the Alchemist isn’t behind this new crop of horrors. The missing skull could be used for any dozens of horrible spells. Merit runs into a group of paranormal investigators who are also searching the cemetery for any unusual activity. It is a good thing that Merit ran into this group because a harmful ghost follows them home to Cadogan House. This ghost is very powerful, strong and can hurt people including vampires. Phantom Kiss isn’t a must read but it is certainly a fun off the wall read. Merit continues to narrate. The supernatural world only gets stranger. After reading some of Blade Bound, I can say that events have been referenced several times but nothing that is pertinent to the main storyline. Notable Scene: The gate was closed and locked, bound to its post with a thick silver chain. Annabelle pulled a necklace over her head, inserted a key into the lock, and when it unsnapped with an audible click, pulled the chain free and pushed the gate open. Magic flowed liked water through the gap, perhaps released by the gate’s opening or drawn to Annabelle and her connection to the dead. The energy of the deceased was unique among magicks, or at least those I’d experienced so far. It was thicker and, when it brushed against skin, felt tangible. But unlike the last time I’d been near a ghost, the magic was sharply cold—potent peppermint against the skin. It had been early spring then, the temperature already cold, so I probably hadn’t noticed the difference. Now it was midsummer, and the chill of magic was a shocking contrast to the warm night air. FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Phantom Kiss. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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0451472330
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| 4.24
| 9,223
| Mar 01, 2016
| Mar 01, 2016
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: In this action-packed installment of Chicagoland Vampires, Merit must go up against an Alchemist. Op Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: In this action-packed installment of Chicagoland Vampires, Merit must go up against an Alchemist. Opening Sentence: I stood at the corner of Clark and Addison in jeans and a Cubs T-shirt, my long hair pulled into a ponytail through a vintage Cubs cap. The Review: Midnight Marked is the twelfth novel in the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill. This novel is non-stop action as it is the penultimate book in the series and is beginning to wrap up some loose ends. It is all leading up to the prophecy that was declared back in book three. I really can’t wait to find out how this turns out. Merit has officially been a vampire for over a year now and she’s hoping to finally attend her first Cubs game since turning but unfortunately her good time turns into finding a dead body. Merit, Ethan, Mallory and Catcher come across a vampire after he has killed a shifter. Merit tries to hunt him down because a vampire killing a shifter is no good for supernatural politics. Not too long after they find the body, they discover a bunch of alchemical runes spray painted on a pillar. The supernaturals of Chicago must decide if they can play nice together, to work together, in order to face a threat to all of them. If they can’t, it may just be the downfall of the supernatural races. In a race against time, Merit and her friends must decipher the runes before Adrian Reed can enact whatever he is planning. Merit is facing a pretty tough task this time around. Fortunately, she isn’t alone and has plenty of friends willing to help her. Merit even makes a new supernatural friend, which was a really cool aspect of the story. Adrian Reed also plays to the supernaturals’ insecurities pitting them against each other which doesn’t help Merit at all. This novel was exciting and fast-paced and even though I figured out the Alchemist from the beginning, I still very much enjoyed this story and how everything played out. If you are a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist (which I am) you’ll have a good idea of what is happening but if you don’t know anything about that series than you may have more surprises in store with the storyline. Overall, I have really enjoyed reviewing these novels with Roxanne. I didn’t really care for the best friends turned enemy storyline but after that I have really enjoyed this series. My other issue with that was Merit’s trusting other people’s judgements throughout the series. If someone said that someone else was okay, she would believe them even with the truth practically slapping her in the face. She seems to have gotten over that in the latter books thankfully. Notable Scene: “I love you, Ethan, and I love this city. And however much I fought it, I love this goddamn House. It’s part of me, and I’m part of it. I’m not going to stand here and watch a man tear down everything that you’ve built. I’m not. And if that means I have to chase another man who threatens this House, or apologize to you more than I like, so be it. I don’t want that, but I can live with it. Because I can’t live without you.” FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin provided me with a copy of Midnight Marked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| B00NUMIPY8
| 4.05
| 4,520
| Oct 01, 2015
| Feb 17, 2015
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Fun, entertaining novel that really doesn’t have much to do with Merit’s storyline. A portion of th Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Fun, entertaining novel that really doesn’t have much to do with Merit’s storyline. A portion of this story was a bit predictable. Opening Sentence: The world below us was dark, cities glowing in orange grids like electrical circuits strewn across black canvas. The Review: Lucky Break is a side novella set in the Chicagoland Vampire world by Chloe Neill. I decided that I wanted to read all the novellas that go with the series while I was doing the series read. I’m glad that I did because I thought it was fun to see the couple happy and actually working together. Merit is back to being sarcastic and funny. Gabe even makes an appearance. Merit and Ethan are on a much-needed vacation. They travel to Colorado hoping to indulge in romantic couple time but as with all things Merit she manages to find trouble within minutes of settling down into her vacation “cabin”. The woman who is lending them the cabin comes running to them when she discovers that her husband is murdered. The only hitch is that she’s a vampire and her husband is a shifter. The vampires and shifters in this area have been in a feud for over 100 years. Ethan and Merit get dragged into the feud and the only way Merit sees for the feud to end is for her to put an end to it once and for all. Merit must discover who murdered the shifter and then discover the real reason of why the feud began in the first place. In order to do that, Merit must enlist the help of Gabe to control the pack of unruly shifters. The only thing that I found a bit of a stretch was how Merit solved the overall mystery, it was just too predictable and convenient. The novella is a fun and quick read but I really did like the fact that Merit and Ethan worked together to solve the feud instead of having some kind of conflict especially after Blood Games. I wouldn’t say that this story has a lot to do with all the main novels but it was still a fun read. Notable Scene: Damien turned, pushed a perfectly folded omelet onto a plate in front of Gabriel, then glanced at me. “You want ham or bacon in your omelet?” It was the question of my dreams. “Yes,” I said with a grin. I can only hope you answer with the same conviction when I propose to you, Sentinel. Ethan had made his intentions abundantly clear, even if he hadn’t formally done the deed. I reached out and patted his hand, smiled mysteriously. We won’t know until you stop fake-proposing and get to the point, will we? FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Lucky Break. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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0451415205
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| 4.23
| 12,709
| Aug 05, 2014
| Aug 05, 2014
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, enthralling story involved a Tarot card serial killer but Ethan’s stubbornness about past ind Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Dark, enthralling story involved a Tarot card serial killer but Ethan’s stubbornness about past indiscretions is a bit annoying. Opening Sentence: He stood beside me as cameras flashed, a man with a long and lean body, deeply green eyes, and golden hair. The Review: The Chicagoland Vampires series and Merit are still going strong with book number ten, Blood Games. I find this series entertaining and now I have no problem jumping into this world. I am really curious how this series will conclude, I just hope it doesn’t end like I think it will… Blood Games has action and intrigue but also a very frustrating Master vampire. Ethan is back to his infuriating, push-away behavior towards Merit again. Merit has been a vampire for almost a year! Time has certainly moved slowly but the world hasn’t stopped for Merit, especially vampire politics. Trouble still abounds for the vampires after a serial killer crops up in Chicago and vampires are given the blame for the deaths. Merit gets drawn into the investigation in order to remove the vampires from the cops’ suspicions. Unfortunately, this serial killer hits close to home for Merit and the people in her life. The Greenwich Presidium has finally revealed their play after Ethan declares for Darius’ position. The GP comes up with more games to play with Ethan, while someone from Ethan’s past decides to use Ethan’s history in a terrible case of blackmail. As a reader, I hated this blackmail angle. It was nice to hear Ethan’s past, I just didn’t like how he couldn’t own up to it. Yes, it was bad but choices were made at a much different time. I was pleasantly surprised and a bit shocked by how the events play out for GP “Games” but I didn’t like how Ethan, once again, was pushing Merit away. I understand that Ethan is nervous about leading the GP. I get that he has some “baggage” aka blackmail that he doesn’t want Merit to learn about but in the end, I spent more time annoyed at Ethan’s bullishness than anything. I did struggle a little bit with reading this one so I’m taking that I wasn’t quite as entertained as I usually am by this series but it was also a crazy busy week for me so I wasn’t able to dedicate the time to reading like I wanted. Although, I’m going to blame it on Ethan’s stubbornness as to why I struggled. By the way, where is Morgan? What the heck has the reclusive Morgan been up too? Overall, the Chicagoland Vampires series has been an entertaining thrill ride for me. I haven’t enjoyed all the books like I thought I would but I have really enjoyed being a part of this world. I really like being immersed into a series set in Chicago with all the sights and sounds that it has to offer. I am excited to see where this story goes. Notable Scene: Arm work. Fast moves—in, out, arms above my head, hips moving in time. Footwork—shuffled steps, a spin with bent knees, then straight up again. Backward flip into a spin. I hit the floor on my knees, draped my torso over my legs, let my hands fall to the floor. Applause lit through the room. Shocked, I looked up, mopped my bangs from my face, and found two dozen vampires on the balcony, including a green-eyed devil—presently silver eyed—who stared down at me. I hadn’t thought to lock the balcony door, and I’d been so completely involved in the stretch and flex of muscle that I hadn’t realized I wasn’t alone. Which, I guess, was exactly the point. I had no idea what he was thinking or feeling—not just because he hadn’t talked to me about it, but because the look in his eyes was unfathomable. Pain, confusion, fear, love, pride or maybe all of them. I don’t know how long we stood there. Master and ballerina staring each other down, Ethan’s past between us again. This wasn’t the first time we’d locked horns over it, and I doubted it would be the last. Ethan had four hundred years of experience and memories packed into his brain, and all the issues that came with them. He was an enigma—probably the most frustrating enigma I’d ever met. He blinked first, dropping his gaze, turning, and disappearing through the balcony door, still a mystery to me. FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin provided me with a copy of Blood Games. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| B00DMCPHPQ
| 3.99
| 4,740
| Jan 07, 2014
| Jan 07, 2014
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Cute novella starring Jeff and Fallon. I loved the story but I didn’t like one aspect of the ending Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Cute novella starring Jeff and Fallon. I loved the story but I didn’t like one aspect of the ending. Opening Sentence: Tension and magic filled the air like invisible smoke, swirling around us with the weight of ancient mysteries. The Review: Howling for You by Chloe Neill is a supplemental novella set in the Chicagoland Vampires world. If you are a fan of Jeff Christopher then you will definitely want to check out this story. As for how it fits into the Meritverse, it is a nice story to read to learn more about the shapeshifters of this world. And it is a HUGE step for Jeff and Fallon’s relationship. After reading the synopsis and seeing the cover, I thought this story would be told from Jeff’s point of view but it is not, Fallon narrates. Fallon is frustrated with her love life. She wants to be with Jeff but she knows she can’t since it is frowned upon and she would have to give up her place in the Apex hierarchy. Fallon is expected to date man after man until she can find the perfect mate, the only problem is they have to be a wolf and Jeff isn’t a wolf. Fallon’s family is about to celebrate bringing her young nephew into the pack hierarchy when a priceless family artifact is stolen. An artifact that can be used to rule the entire pack. Fallon and Jeff spend more time together trying to track down the artifact while dealing with their own personal emotions. Howling for You is a really cute story. I have been rooting for Fallon and Jeff ever since she showed up on the page. I really wish there was more of her in the main series. There was only one thing about the story that I didn’t care for and wished there had been a work around but not everything can be fair in life. I don’t think this novella will be central to the remaining storylines but it is a nice side story featuring Jeff. It was also a quick read for me, under an hour. So pick it up if you want something to kill an hour with. Notable Scene: “We should go inside,” Jeff said. I turned to walk into the church, but he took my hand and pulled me against his body. Before I could object, his lips were on mine, mouth insistent. He kissed me there on the steps of the church, with snow falling like tears around us. When he pulled away a moment later, my breath was short. “Jeff,” I said, but he shook his head, leaned his forehead against mine. “Every time I breathe, I breathe for you. Every time I speak, I speak for you. And every time I howl, I howl for you.” He pressed his lips to mine, so softly. “This isn’t over,” he said, and walked inside. FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Howling For You. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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0451415183
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| 4.19
| 17,337
| Aug 06, 2013
| Aug 06, 2013
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Strong, entertaining installment where vampires are once again the target by unfair government offi Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Strong, entertaining installment where vampires are once again the target by unfair government officials. Opening Sentence: I stared at the sleek steel blade, its honed edge only inches from my cheek, and tried not to flinch. The Review: Biting Bad is the eighth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. It took me until the seventh book to thoroughly enjoy this series and really get behind it again. Since Roxanne and I are switching off the reviews I wasn’t able to talk about why I liked the last one but it helped remind me of why I love the paranormal and urban fantasy so much. I didn’t hate the others, I just didn’t like some of the directions that the books took. Although I have always liked how Merit is for everybody and she doesn’t fall for others shit. This book also hit pretty hard emotionally because of the targeting of government officials towards others, bullying, riots and prejudice that is really going on right now just in a different form. Cadogan House is celebrating Valentine’s as a free house. They are no longer under the rule of the human-hating Greenwich Presidium. Life seems to be normalizing for the vampires even Merit is giving her relationship with Mallory another try. Then a group of humans start rioting and setting places on fire all in the name of getting rid of the vampires in the city of Chicago. Merit has her instincts about who is behind the rioting but everyone else has to have the solid evidence. A powerful human-hating vampire attacks at Cadogan House letting them know that the Greenwich Presidium will not allow them to continue their free-thinking ways. The Greenwich Presidium proves once and for all that they are not done with Cadogan House or the rest of the Chicago vampires. And, just when you think everything is going okay or at least as okay as it can get, then the ending just packs another wallop. It is a bit of a cliffhanger but not like the previous cliffhanger this series had. The ending is more like what the reader will expect they will solve in the next book. Ethan and Merit work well together in this novel. I like how they seem to be more in sync with each other and let the other do what they need to for the good of their vampires. The gang seems to be getting back together and I do appreciate the direction of Mallory and Merit’s relationship. I always feel like something or someone is left out when the series gets this far along and this novel definitely felt that way even though there was a lot happening. One thing that drove me nuts, it wasn’t anything that overtly ruined the story because I really did like it, was the fact that the company that makes the blood for vampires is a human run company that has been around for many, many years. The vampires were only recently outed but the government knew about them. I’m just curious as to why these humans created this company because the vampires should have been outed a long time ago. In the end, I think this series has gotten much more solid. It is what I think a true urban fantasy should be: first person (often wise-cracking) protagonist, dark, and paranormal. This series has been quite entertaining and Biting Bad was no exception. I’m really looking forward to where this series goes next because that ending makes me fear for Ethan and Merit’s relationship. Notable Scene: “What the hell!” I said, my own emotions breaking through the faux-human barrier I’d erected. I squeezed my hands into fists to keep from throttling him, from attacking humans in the middle of a street surrounded by witnesses, and no matter the justification. “That’s my car!” “Yeah? What the fuck are you going to do about it?” He hit the windshield, a crack spreading from side to side. “Maybe it’s not her you need to worry about.” We both looked at Mallory, who’d spoken those ominous words. She’d pulled off her knitted cap, and the tendrils of blue hair that had escaped her braid floated around her face in the cloud of magic. That cloud wasn’t visible, but I could feel it, as though I were standing inches away from high-voltage wires. “You got something to say about it, blue hair?” “As a matter of fact,” she said, “I do.” She blinked . . . and so did a streetlight across the street. It flashed and crackled with light, loudly enough to make even the fearless rioters flinch. Another second of staring, and the light exploded—sending a shower of green and orange sparks into the air. Chaos erupted, and we took full advantage. FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin provided me with a copy of Biting Bad. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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| 4.12
| 25,871
| Aug 01, 2012
| Aug 07, 2012
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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A major story arc ends and some really strange things happen on the way. Opening Sentence: It shown Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: A major story arc ends and some really strange things happen on the way. Opening Sentence: It shown like a beacon. The Review: Biting Cold is the sixth novel in the Chicagoland Vampires series and it picks up within hours right after the events of the fifth novel, Drink Deep. I was a little wary about picking up this novel because I didn’t really like how events played out in the last novel even though I knew that was the direction the story was going. If you don’t want any spoilers for the previous books in this series, I will try to not give too much away but this series highly plays off of previous events so something might be spoiled. As I was reading I couldn’t help but think how this series is like a soap opera or even professional wrestling, how one person goes from being good to being bad and vice versa within a few shows. In this case, within a few novels. Merit and Ethan are on the road at the beginning of Biting Cold just hours after the seemingly cliffhanger-ish ending of Drink Deep. They hope to find the Malaficium and guard it before best friend-turned bad girl gets her hands on it again. Unfortunately, things never quite go Merit’s way when she finds out someone else is also after the book. Things get complicated between Merit and Ethan when Merit wants to protect her friend from the path she’s turned. The part of this story actually goes by pretty quickly and it is quite action packed. The second part of the story is pretty crazy and I don’t quite care for how some of it was portrayed but it was still entertaining. The aftermath of the battle for the spellbook reveals a new bad guy. The previous bad guy has been “captured” and is now wallowing in their evilness with a questionable punishment (although now that I think about it some more this punishment might actually work better than being jailed). Ethan didn’t learn his lesson after all and is back to being moody. I do have some issues with the books but overall, I am still enjoying the story except when Ethan gets all moody towards Merit but I’m hoping that all of that is over now. I’m also not a huge fan of the best friends turned bad angle but it really isn’t as bad as I’m making it sound. They have been growing apart and Merit has an awesome friend in Lindsey now whom I adore like crazy. Biting Cold is pretty action packed since Merit is having to deal with two bad guys unlike that annoyingly frustrating wild goose chase that Merit had to undergo in the last book. I do feel like this novel felt like a bit of a wrap up of the ongoing story line that has been happening so that should helpfully be satisfying to readers. There is still plenty going on with this series though so I can’t wait to see what happens next. Overall, this series has been quite enjoyable and I do like how creative it is but I’m not entirely sold on its awesomeness since I have had some issues with the direction of characters actions. Notable Scene: She rolled together another ball of magic, then pitched it at him. He screamed out as the shock of magic hit, but then froze for a moment. As we all watched in horror, we realized Mallory hadn’t meant to kill or even stun him. She meant to change him. Keith began to stretch and expand. His shoulders widened, and his arms grew into tree limbs. His torso tripled, and his legs lengthened until his head rose over us to horrific proportions, from a smiling two-foot-tall gnome to a twenty-foot-tall lumbering beast. He looked down at me and grinned menacingly through domino-sized teeth, and it wasn’t a pleasant smile. Mal hadn’t just made him larger; she’d made him meaner. “Oh, that is just wrong,” I muttered. FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin provided me with a copy of Biting Cold. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more |
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Mar 10, 2018
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Trade Paperback
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Dark Faerie Tales
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reviewed-by-kristie
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3.84
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3.61
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3.35
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3.59
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4.40
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it was amazing
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3.61
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3.72
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4.08
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4.24
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4.05
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3.99
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4.19
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4.12
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Mar 10, 2018
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