I've put off writing this review for a long time because I feel so painfully disappointed by this book. You only have to look at my excited squeeing bI've put off writing this review for a long time because I feel so painfully disappointed by this book. You only have to look at my excited squeeing below to know how much I was looking forward to reading this. Seriously, a gender bent, sci-fi King Arthur reimagining should be a winning book for me so it pains me to say I was so bored I couldn't even finish reading it.
To start with the positive I love what the authors were trying to do by creating such a diverse cast of characters, we people of all colours and characters from all the way across the LGBT spectrum and that is something we desperately need more of in YA fantasy - especially when people's sexuality or race isn't a major part of the plot or a reason that they're treated badly. Unfortunately when the first (and pretty much only!) thing you know about most of the characters is their race and their sexual preference it starts to feel like the authors are just on a box ticking exercise to make sure they collect a whole set and to me that's what happened here. I get that the authors were probably trying to show that their cast was diverse and that it wasn't a big deal in this world (both wonderful things!) but it just didn't work for me in this case. It didn't help that I could pair up the entire cast before they even expressed their romantic interests, I've not actually read far enough to see all of those pairings but from reading spoilers I was right with every guess.
I think my biggest disappointment was Merlin though. He's supposed to be a wise wizard who has been reincarnated for the 42nd time to train Arthur (or Ari as she is in this incarnation). Every time Merlin comes back he finds his body has gotten younger but he retains all of his memories and therefore has 41 lifetimes worth of experiences. So why is he now reduced to nothing but a horny teenager? His character was infuriatingly stupid, he acts like a bumbling, foolish idiot and turns into a hormonal wreck at the sight of a boy he fancies. I was expecting Merlin to be a cool character, someone who Ari and the others could turn to for advice and what I got was a blushing teenage idiot. This is especially disappointing as he's a POV character so you have to spend time inside his head and that just wasn't a place I wanted to be.
I get that I'm not exactly in the target age group for this story but I read, & love, a lot of YA so that really shouldn't have been a problem. You only have to look at reviews to see that this story is polarising so don't let me put you off giving it a try, hopefully you'll enjoy it more than I did. But I can't be anything other than honest when I write my reviews and the fact is I disliked this book so much I couldn't even finish reading it.
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I am sooooooo happy to have an arc of this!! And it's pretty cool that Rock the Boat included one of my overexcited tweets about it in there LOL.
Bound picks up the story a few weeks from where Cursed left off, Lucky, Jamie and Jinx are in a great place relationship wise but it all goes3.5 stars
Bound picks up the story a few weeks from where Cursed left off, Lucky, Jamie and Jinx are in a great place relationship wise but it all goes horribly wrong when Jinx gets kidnapped by their enemies. Thanks to their bond Lucky feels his pain as he is tortured and she's desperate to rescue him as quickly as possible. Jamie also wants to rescue him but as a Guardian he has an important role to play in protecting humanity and when Jinx is taken to the human realm the Guardians are ordered to stop whatever plan his kidnappers are working towards - even if the only way to do that is to kill Jinx. Even though Jamie promises her he'd never hurt Jinx Lucky finds herself struggling to trust him so she decides to work alone to bring Jinx safely home.
One of the things I've loved most about this series is that the author completely avoided the dreaded love triangle by making it clear from very early on that the two demon love interests were more than happy to share. I think this is the first time I've come across a triad relationship in urban fantasy but hopefully it won't be the last because that's definitely a solution I can get behind - I'd just like one that doesn't fade to black for the good bits please! I love how different the two guys are Jinx is the more playful teasing member of the group while Jamie is more sensitive and very caring but they're equally devoted to Lucky.
For her part Lucky has always seemed to care for both guys equally but that seemed to go a bit out of the window here and I ended up getting really annoyed with her for not trusting Jamie more. I get that she was desperate to rescue Jinx but Jamie would never do anything to hurt her and that includes letting the Guardians kill Jinx. It felt a bit manufactured to cause drama and because she refused to work with Jamie Lucky ended up making a lot of stupid decisions and getting herself into trouble because she'd go charging into situations with no back up. It made the story interesting for sure but I did want to shake some sense into her and I felt quite sorry for Jamie because it made him seem like the outsider in the relationship.
Overall I've really enjoyed this trilogy though, there's been lots of action and Lucky's guards have all been such brilliant characters. I'm going to miss all of them, even Mr Shenanigans and Mr Kerfuffle but especially Pyrites. I'm sad we're not going to get more stories about this group but I'll definitely be watching out for whatever Sue Tingey publishes next....more
I'm a huge fan of the Midnight Breed, it's been my favourite PNR series for a long time now and in my opinion Lara Adrian's books just keep getting beI'm a huge fan of the Midnight Breed, it's been my favourite PNR series for a long time now and in my opinion Lara Adrian's books just keep getting better and better. The last few novellas have been great but they were about some of the European Order members so this is our first chance to catch up with the core order members in a while. I hadn't actually realised how much I missed them until I started reading this but it was absolutely wonderful to see so many old familiar faces and I'm loving getting to know the next generation too.
The Order has been trying to put a stop to Opus Nostrum for a while now, this terror group wants to wipe the Breed off the face of the planet and now that they have access to UV weapons they're an even more dangerous enemy. Every lead the Order get seems to reach a dead end and Opus Nostrum are always one step ahead so they really need to work fast to get information from their latest suspect. Aric is Sterling and Tavia's son and twin to Carys, his rare daywalker abilities make him the ideal Order member to go undercover at a high class wedding where they might have a chance to interrogate their mark. He has been teamed up with Kaya, a breedmate who has worked hard to prove herself a valuable asset to the Order. Both Aric and Kaya are desperate to become fully fledged members and this assignment is the perfect time to show off their skills. Kaya's unique breedmate ability to read people's mind with a touch, combined with Aric's ability to wipe memories should make it easy to get information on Opus Nostrum without tipping their hand but field jobs hardly ever go exactly as planned and if things go wrong they'll be on their own.
Kaya was such an easy character to like, she has worked so hard to prove herself to the Order and although she's no match for a member of the Breed in physical strength she holds her own pretty well and brings her own set of skills to the party. Kaya had a difficult upbringing and there are things about her past that she's incredibly ashamed of so she's keeping some pretty big secrets because she's terrified of being kicked out if the Order learns the truth. She would never do anything to hurt the Order, they've become the family she always dreamed of, but when you've been hiding something for so long it just gets harder and harder to come clean.
Aric initially comes across as a little self centred and arrogant but once you get to know him you realise he's not a bad guy. His parents have always given him and his sister everything they could ever want but they both had to earn their place in the Order - there are no free rides given no matter who your parents are. In fact, having such important family members have only made him feel like he has even more to prove to live up to their reputation. He is drawn to Kaya immediately but they're both reluctant to start any kind of official relationship, partly because he doesn't plant to stay in Montreal for very long but also because Kaya knows her secrets will come out eventually and she doesn't want to lie to to him. What starts as a fairly antagonistic relationship soon grows into mutual respect and that allows them both to give in to the simmering attraction that was there all along. I loved their romance and found it very easy to root for them as a couple.
We also get the chance to catch up with some of the original couples, Nikolai and Renata are in charge of the Montreal chapter of the Order and they have some exciting things going on in their lives so we see a fair amount of them both along with their adopted daughter Mira and her mate Kellan, but we also get a glimpse of Lucan, Gabrielle, Rio, Dylan, Chase, Tavia, and some of the others. I loved getting to know Rafe (Tess and Dante's son) and really hope we get a book for him but I don't think he's going to be ready for a relationship just yet so we might have to wait a while. This series is just getting better and better, the fight against Opus Nostrum is heating up, the danger to the Breed is increasing and the Order's task to protect Breed and humans alike is just getting more complicated. I love where Lara Adrian is taking these books and and can't wait to get my hands on the next instalment!...more
I absolutely love the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, I've read the entire series and the books just got better and better with each new instalment. TheI absolutely love the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, I've read the entire series and the books just got better and better with each new instalment. The series ends perfectly but I really hope that Rebecca Chastain decides to revisit these characters (or just the world!) again in the future.
Here is a copy my review of book 1, Magic of the Gargoyles, to give you an idea what to expect from the series. I'm not including my reviews for the other books because I don't want to give anyone spoilers!
All earth elemental Mika has ever dreamed of is opening her own store where she can sell her magical creations, she has been saving for months and almost has enough to put down a deposit on a shop in an ideal location, all she needs to do is complete her latest order in time and her dreams will finally come true. Everything changes when a young gargoyle hatchling turns up at Mika's apartment begging for help. The gargoyle's siblings have all been kidnapped and their lives are in great danger as an unscrupulous magician is siphoning off their life forces to increase his magical abilities. Mika knows that she can't leave the gargoyles to be ruthlessly tortured by a monster but going up against such a powerful enemy will put a target on her back and could end up costing her everything.
Most novellas I read tend to be part of a larger ongoing series where I'm already familiar with the world and the characters so I'm instantly invested in the story and it's very easy to dive into them. I wasn't too sure how Rebecca Chastain was going to manage to create a whole new world, introduce an entirely new set of characters and create an engaging story in less than 100 pages but after loving all of her other novels I knew I had to give Magic of the Gargoyles a try. Consider me incredibly impressed because she did a fantastic job of all of those things and I enjoyed every minute of this story.
Mika is a great main character, she isn't the strongest magic user but she has a lot of heart and she puts herself at risk to protect the gargoyles because they aren't old enough to fight for themselves. You can't fault her bravery and I loved seeing her figure out more about her own skills along the way. I always complain about the lack of female friendships in some stories so I also really enjoyed the bond between Mika and her best friend Kylie, the two support each other 100% and Kylie immediately comes to Mika's aid when she is in trouble. What made this story for me was the gargoyles though, they were utterly adorable and each of the siblings had different quirks and characteristics that made them stand out as individuals. I'd quite like a family of baby gargoyles to move into my house actually, they would make life interesting for sure!
Magic of the Gargoyles is a fantastic little novella full of action and adventure and a very well built world considering how short it is. There is plenty of room for the story to be expanded upon and I'd love to read about more of Mika's adventures so I was very excited to discover that Rebecca Chastain is already at work on another 2 stories in this world. I'll certainly be buying any new instalments on release day and I can't wait to spend more time with Mika and the gargoyles!...more
Cursed picks up the story immediately after the ending of Marked so Lucky, along with her guards, are currently on the run after being accused of treaCursed picks up the story immediately after the ending of Marked so Lucky, along with her guards, are currently on the run after being accused of treason against her father. Before they can figure out who set them up and go about proving their innocence Lucky discovers that her sister Kayla has been kidnapped by a dangerous cult of assassins. Lucky will do whatever it takes to find her sister, even if that means going back to her father and asking for his help. Court politics are more complicated than ever without Kayla on hand to protect her though and her father soon gives her an ultimatum, bring home her sister safely or go on trial for treason.
This series is just getting better and better, Lucky is growing into her own strengths as a character and starting to come to terms with everything she learned about herself and her background in the first book. She still doesn't love being in the Underlands but she is starting to discover that, like humans, not all daemons are evil and there are daemons she can consider her friends. She was marked by two of the most powerful daemons alive and her attraction to both Guardian Jamie and Jinx the Deathbringer is growing stronger by the day but she's worried about having to choose between the two. Both guys still seem more than willing to share though so I'm still rooting for them to end up in a triad relationship - surely that's the best way ever to resolve a potential love triangle!
I love the side characters in this series, Jinx and Jamie are both brilliant, opposites in a lot of ways but both completely united when it comes to protecting Lucky and keeping her safe. It's hard to say which of the guys I prefer, I like Jinx's sarcastic sense of humour and the way he always needles the others but I also love Jamie's sweeter personality. Jamie comes across as more laid back but he's just as dangerous and anyone who underestimates him won't survive long enough to make the same mistake twice. Pyrites the drakon is utterly adorable but the remaining two guards Mr Kerfuffle and Mr Shenanigans have really grown on me too and the whole group just works really well together.
Cursed really stepped things up a gear in terms of action and danger. Lucky and her friends are all put to the test and some scenes were quite gory. Sue Tingey definitely has a knack for writing the blood and guts moments so I'll admit to being more than a little disappointed that the sexy times ended up being fade to black! There is a lot going on in the world and there were definitely a few twists I didn't see coming so I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the series and picking up my copy of Bound....more
Mika has a very rare ability that makes her a perfect gargoyle healer and she has dedicated all her time to helping gargoyles in need ever since she dMika has a very rare ability that makes her a perfect gargoyle healer and she has dedicated all her time to helping gargoyles in need ever since she discovered it. Unfortunately there is one problem she has so far been unable to resolve and that's healing the gargoyles who are lying dormant around the city. Mika knows there is something very wrong with them but none of the research she has carried out has helped her find answers. It's taken a long time but now she has finally gained the trust of an older gargoyle who knows what is causing the problem but it isn't something that she can solve on her own and she is forced to turn to the FPD for help. Since most of the squad is currently unavailable it is up to Marcus to help Mika and Oliver on their dangerous quest, the only question that remains is will they be fast enough to save the gargoyles currently in Mika's care?
Secret of the Gargoyle is a fantastic finale to the Gargoyle Guardian trilogy that's full of action, danger and magic. Rebecca Chastain has created such a bright and vivid world and it's one I love spending time in. The way she describes magic use is wonderful and it just got even better in this book as Mika manages to tap into a power that humans aren't even supposed to know exists. The gargoyle characters are brilliant, I've loved Oliver from the beginning and it's been wonderful watching him grow from the tiny hatchling Mika rescued in Curse of the Gargoyles to the courageous companion he has become. Oliver loves Mika beyond all reason and thinks nothing of putting himself in harm's way to protect her but that is something that definitely goes both ways and Mika would do anything to look after him and any other gargoyles that cross her path.
Mika is brilliant, she's smart, brave and incredibly caring. As the only known gargoyle healer she sees it as her responsibility to look after all of the gargoyles and she thinks nothing of putting herself at risk to save them. I admire how focused she is on her goal but I loved that Marcus calls her out when she gets in over her head. She doesn't always see the dangers to herself until it's almost too late and she needs someone to help her take a step back and look at the bigger picture sometimes. Marcus obviously cares deeply about her and I really enjoyed the slow build romance that has developed between them. There were hints of an attraction between them in the previous stories but this is the book that really moves things forward since they spend so much time working together. I think they make a great couple, their personalities fit well together and they both bring something different to the relationship.
I've loved every minute of this series so I'm incredibly sad that it's come to an end but I'm still kind of hoping that Rebecca Chastain will choose to revisit this world again in the future. I'd be very happy to read more books from Mika's point of view but there is also definitely story potential for Mika's friend Kylie and a certain Captain. No matter what she's writing about this author is on my auto-buy list though and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review...more
Now that Mika has discovered her special skills as a gargoyle healer she has been putting them to good use helping to ensure the city's gargoyles are Now that Mika has discovered her special skills as a gargoyle healer she has been putting them to good use helping to ensure the city's gargoyles are fit and healthy. She still isn't the strongest magical user in general and only has a low level of ability for anything but her earth element but when it comes to her quartz speciality she is second to none. She has managed to keep out of the limelight since rescuing a clutch of baby gargoyles and doesn't really want to get involved in defensive magic again but when a squad of Federal Pentagon Defence warriors request her help to protect a severely abused gargoyle she knows she has to do whatever she can. Unfortunately the gargoyle in question has been linked into a spell that has become highly destructive and unstable so if Mika and the FPD squad aren't able to find a way to break it the whole city could be destroyed in the fallout.
If you enjoyed Magic of the Gargoyles then Curse of the Gargoyles will blow you away! I was excited to get my hands on this story and read about Mika's next adventure but I don't think I even have the words to describe how much I loved this book. Everything I enjoyed in the first story is back here but bigger and better than ever. Mika has so much courage that even though she's relatively inexperienced compared to the squad she is working with she manages to hold her own, she also has an instinctive way about her when it comes to using the quartz element and that is what really makes her so outstanding when it comes to helping gargoyles in need. I just have to say how much I love Rebecca Chastain's descriptions of the elemental magic that Mika and the others use, she creates such vibrant images in my head while I'm reading that it's almost like watching a movie.
We still have the wonderful friendship between Mika and Kylie, they have such a brilliant connection and I enjoy seeing the way they always watch out for each other, it was also great catching up with the FPD squad we were introduced to in the first story and I liked that there are hints of a bit of romance in the air for both Mika and Kylie. As per the first book it was Oliver and his gargoyle siblings who stole the show though, they were adorable babies before but now they're growing bigger and have become much more independant. They all love Mika but she has a very special bond with Oliver and he is always by her side when she needs a magical boost. It wasn't just Mika showing her bravery in this story, Oliver and the others also put themselves in harm's way to protect the city and every other gargoyle in it, they do it because they trust in Mika to keep them safe and I loved that they had so much faith in her even when she's doubting her own abilities.
I can't think of a single negative thing to say about this story apart from that I wanted it to be longer, not because it wasn't completely satisfying in it's own right but because I would have been very happy to spend a lot more time in this world! The brilliant news is that the third story, Secret of the Gargoyles, is due to be published in June so we don't have too much longer to wait and I'll be at the front of the queue to start reading it on release day. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the series will end up being a lot longer than a trilogy though, one more story definitely won't be enough!
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review...more
Life isn't easy for Rose, she's only 16 but she's also the only person in her family that is even slightly responsible when it comes to money and she'Life isn't easy for Rose, she's only 16 but she's also the only person in her family that is even slightly responsible when it comes to money and she's definitely the only one who doesn't dabble in illegal activities. For months her father has been held hostage by criminals he owes money too and Rose is being blackmailed into paying a ransom fee for his safety. It's a good job she's extremely intelligent and has a knack for playing the stock market but that is only going to get her so far and things are about to get a whole lot worse. Damien is visiting fellow member of the YDA Joe and his family in New York when he meets their kooky next door neighbour Rose. Rose intrigues him but he can tell she's keeping secrets and it's not long before the boys start meddling in Rose's business trying to find out exactly what is going on. When things quickly go downhill Damien is determined to help Rose solve her problems but will she be willing to trust him when he already betrayed her once by sticking his nose in where it wasn't wanted?
I love Joss Stirling's books, they're always such fun and quick reads and a brilliant way to keep myself entertained for a few hours. You do have to suspend believe a little (what 16 year old would really be capable of raising millions of dollars in just a couple of weeks by buying and selling shares on the stock market?) but as long as you can just go with the flow and have fun with it I'm sure you'll enjoy these books. I love the idea of the Young Detective Agency, it's a school for teens that aims to teach them everything they need to know to go into a future career with law enforcement so it's at least somewhat believable that the students would be good at problem solving and investigations.
Damien is a character we've seen in the previous books and he's always been fun but definitely not a boy who is looking for a serious girlfriend. He's actually quite horrified that two of his best friends are now in a relationship and he makes a big point of telling Joe that he's planning on playing the field for a while longer. Of course everything changes when he meets Rose, she's nothing like the girls he normally goes for and he finds her all the more fascinating because of it. Rose is incredibly smart but not so good with people, she spends so much of her time looking after her father and brother and holding the home together that she doesn't have much left for anything other than studying so her social life is nonexistent. She would love to fit in but she just doesn't have the same interests as most of the people in her class and she's so focused on passing her exams and heading off to uni that she lets everything else pass her by. Damien pulls her out of her comfort zone a little which is really good for her, he finds her social awkwardness endearing but he won't let her hide away from the world. They actually fit together surprisingly well and I enjoyed seeing the friendship build between them.
There is plenty of action in the story, Rose is determined to do things her own way and although she does make a couple of really silly decisions they were forgivable because of her age. She wants to solve her family's problems and she has a dangerous plan but I had to admire the way she was so determined to do the right thing even when it meant putting herself in harm's way. Damien makes a couple of mistakes too but he steps up when she really needs him and that's the most important thing. I also enjoyed getting to know Joe a bit better so I'm really hoping he's going to be getting his own book too.
Source: Received from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review...more
I'm a huge fan of Mila Gray / Sarah Alderson so I couldn't wait to read the sequel to Come Back to Me and had very high expectations for This is One MI'm a huge fan of Mila Gray / Sarah Alderson so I couldn't wait to read the sequel to Come Back to Me and had very high expectations for This is One Moment. We already met the heroine Didi in the previous book, she is Jessa's best friend, and after everything she's been through I was looking forward to seeing her get a happily ever after.
Didi is a romantic at heart, her parents have a fantastic marriage and Didi has always dreamed of having the same but her love life has always been disastrous. Things finally seem to be looking up though, she's finished her degree in psychology, she's dating movie star Zac, a guy most girls would kill to be with, and now she's about to start an internship at a military hospital while she studies for her masters. She has her whole life planned out and it doesn't include falling for one of her patients, especially not a frustrating and grumpy Marine like Noel Walker.
Only two members of Walker's team survived the roadside ambush that cost him his sight and although he was able to get Sanchez to safety he is full of guilt about those who were left behind. Suffering with PTSD makes Walker's life unbearable, he has no idea what to do with his life and no hope for the future because he is being crippled by the guilt he feels. The first meeting between Walker and Didi doesn't go well but she is determined to find a way to get through to him and the more time they spend together the more she starts to realise that her feelings are in no way platonic.
I really enjoyed the romance between these two, it's such a slow build up as they become friends and slowly start to open up to each other and it was nice that nothing felt rushed between them. They obviously have chemistry but it takes a long time before they act on it because Didi is worried about crossing lines and losing her internship but the wait just made things that much sweeter when they finally give into temptation. Didi is such a kind and caring person, she wants to do her best by Walker and the other guys she's working with but at the same time she's aware that she's risking getting her heart broken if Walker doesn't learn to open up and let her in. Walker's back story broke my heart, he had been through so much and he did his best to survive and help his team mates but he can't forget the ones he wasn't able to save. He wants Didi but doesn't feel worthy of her love so he tends to push her away thinking he's doing it for her own good and there were definitely times when I wanted to shake some sense into him.
I think one of the things I enjoyed most about this story was meeting the other wounded soldiers on the ward though, Mila Gray does a fantastic job of showing the challenges that these guys face after coming home with horrific injuries and how they all have different coping mechanisms. Sanchez lost an arm and a leg but he's just grateful to be alive, he's the life and soul of the party who is determined to live life to the fullest and his banter often had me laughing out loud. On the other hand Dodds who lost both of his legs and is really struggling to come to terms with what happened. He's deeply depressed and seeing how miserable he was just broke my heart.
Although This is One Moment is at it's heart a romance novel there is a lot more to it than that and some of the other story lines can be quite painful to read at times. This isn't all sweetness and light, there is a realness that will tug on your heartstrings and make you feel grateful to be alive. Mila Gray has given us a fantastic follow up to her first novel and I'm definitely excited to see what she comes up with next....more
1st read - June 2015 2nd read - July 2019 3rd read - April 2021
There are only 1000 synths in existence, these highly advanced synthetic humans can be pu1st read - June 2015 2nd read - July 2019 3rd read - April 2021
There are only 1000 synths in existence, these highly advanced synthetic humans can be purchased the super rich so that their memories and consciousness can be transferred to the synth when they die. But if only 1000 of them were created who is #1001, where did she come from and why is she so different to the others? #1001 wants to live, she's managed to escape captivity and she has a plan but is it a coincidence that it's Caleb's ship that she ends up on? Caleb makes a living smuggling cargo but a stowaway synth is too hot for him and he knows he'll be in all kinds of trouble if he's caught. All he wants to do is get rid of her fast and if he can make some money while he's at it then he'll be happy to take the bonus. What Caleb doesn't realise is that he and #1001 have history and now it's high time to pay for the mistakes of his past.
Oh what a fun read Girl From Above: Betrayal is and if you like your characters morally ambiguous you are going to love Caleb and his crew. None of these characters are what you'd call good guys, they're all willing to bend the rules if it benefits them and they're all out for themselves above anyone else even if that means betraying each other. Caleb is the worst of the lot but somehow I found myself loving him anyway. As soon as I picked this up I started getting Firefly vibes and I have to admit picturing Caleb as Captain Malcolm definitely didn't hurt my enjoyment of the story.
This world is dark, the characters are twisted and I was completely hooked. The blurb contains the following warning "Contains graphic adult content, including sex, drug use, violence, and a plethora of curse words. Not for the easily offended." and I definitely stand by that, it isn't going to be the right book for everyone but if you're like me that warning will just make you want to read it even more. I loved this story and can't wait to dive into the next instalment....more
I don't tend to buy multiple copies of the same book, my shelves are close to collapsing as it is and it seems pointless to waste space on duplicates.I don't tend to buy multiple copies of the same book, my shelves are close to collapsing as it is and it seems pointless to waste space on duplicates. There are a few exceptions to that rule though & I think Shadow and Bone must be the book I own the most copies off.
What girl doesn't need 4 copies of one of their favourite books though? Well OK, you're right, none of us do, but how was I supposed to resist the pretty new purple cover?
Especially when you throw in the fact that this has exclusive extra content! I didn't reread the whole book but it was worth buying this version just for the letter from Mal to Alina. It was perfect getting to see some of his thoughts after Alina first discovers her powers & I love him more than ever now :o)...more
TimeBomb is the first book in Scott K. Andrews' new time travel trilogy and it introduces us to three very different protagonists. First you have JanaTimeBomb is the first book in Scott K. Andrews' new time travel trilogy and it introduces us to three very different protagonists. First you have Jana, a girl from 2141 New York who finds herself pulled to the present day when she leaps off the top of a skyscraper. Then there is Dora, a young servant who has been pulled forward in time from Cornwall in 1640 and finds herself in a world very different to the one she is used to. Finally there is Kaz, the boy who finds them both at Sweetclover Hall, a young illegal immigrant who is on the run from an angry farmer. At first glance the three of them have absolutely nothing in common but they soon find themselves pulled into a web of intrigue and mystery. They have no idea why they have been drawn into this mess but they do know that they'll have to work together if they want to find the answers.
Most of this story is set in Dora's time period, right in the midst of the English Civil War, a very dangerous time for strangers to appear in a small, tight knit, community. Dora may be local but she's been missing for long enough to the locals to be suspicious and it doesn't help that she's arrived with strangers in tow. All events seem to lead the trio back to Sweetclover Hall and it appears that Lord Sweetclover and his mysterious wife Quil are behind everything that has happened to them but just what are they up to and why are Dora, Jana and Kaz so important to them?
As this is the first book in a trilogy we're left with a lot of unanswered questions but Scott K. Andrews has written a story that is fast paced and incredibly addictive to read. I picked it up thinking I'd just read a couple of chapters before bed and before I knew it I was halfway through the book. All three main characters are well drawn out and three dimensional, they all have different strengths and must learn to trust each other and work together as a team. It isn't easy for them to decide who else they can trust and they all make some surprising discoveries about their own timelines which I think will have an impact on them as the series continues. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where this story goes next, the great thing about time travel stories is that pretty much anything is impossible, I'd quite like to get the chance to explore Jana's futuristic world but I'm also very intrigued by the hints we've seen that the story actually begins way back before even Dora was born. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for the sequel and I'd recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a fast paced read with plenty of mystery, lots of action and more than a little journeying through time....more
It's not often you can reach book 12 in a series and still have an author surprise you with the direction the story takes. There aren't many authors oIt's not often you can reach book 12 in a series and still have an author surprise you with the direction the story takes. There aren't many authors out there like Gini Koch though and not only is she an expert at creating action packed stories that are full of sub plots upon sub plots run by a huge cast of wonderful supporting characters but she also fills her books with so much humour that they never fail to make me laugh out loud. Kitty is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters, she comes up with such hair-brained schemes and you can honestly never guess what she'll try next but you know for sure she'll come out fighting and that any bad guys in the vicinity had better watch out.
We have been watching the Mastermind pulling the strings for a long time now, he's done a lot of despicable things and caused the deaths of some much loved characters but now Kittye and crew are onto him and they're working hard to bring him down. Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as calling him out since they have absolutely no evidence to use against him and they're pretty sure he has several back up plans in place in case anything happens to him. It's no use cutting off the head if the hydra is just going to grow a few more replacements so this really does need to be done carefully. Unfortunately the Mastermind has a few more tricks up his sleeve and when he kicks off one of his Doomsday plans Kitty realises that the people she cares most about are in more danger than they've ever faced before.
You're in for a crazy journey in Alien in Chief so you should just sit back and enjoy the ride. Crazy fight scenes, snake attacks, a deadly virus, alien visitors, invisible armies, old enemies finally getting what they deserve, new allies found, old allies lost and so much more can be found in these pages. The fun never stops but you should also be prepared for a few tears because not everyone makes it to the end of the book. Things have also taken a really interesting turn and the future is about to get extremely interesting for Jeff and Kitty as the series continues. I can't wait for Camp Alien!...more