Okay, so I waited to finish the ENTIRE series before I reviewed this series and I was not disappointed! We all know how much I love, love, love Valek from Maria V. Snyder's Study series...well, now I have a new assassin to drool over--Sicarius (which if I understand correctly, is Greek for assassin).
I'm not a huge steampunk fan. For those who don't know, Steampunk is a term used for books that tend to bring magic/modern technology and combine it with historical fiction type books. I've read a few...some were good, some were not so impressive. One I enjoyed is called Leviathan, I'll review it later ;)
Anyhoo, I digress, this series is "steampunk" though I'm not quick to call it that. This takes places in a fictional world but one that seems to be dated early 1900s-ish. The characters either walk or travel on steam train or steam lorries to get places--steam lorries being vehicles that are fueled by coals put into an engine and "fired" up, quite literally. It does have "magic" though the more educated characters call it "the mental sciences" and there is a hint of "aliens" as in a technology that is so advanced that it must be from another world. So those are some quirks but I encourage to read beyond that if those type of things bother you.
The heroine, Amaranthe, is likable, relatable, and fun. She starts off as a by-the-book enforcer (another word for police officer) who is so polished from her bun in her hair to her shiny boots. She quickly gets thrown into a world of crazy politics when the emperor (a young 19yo who isn't supposed to have an opinion) catches a peek of her in action and wants to get to know her better. His advisor, a man who wants to keep him under thumb, throws Amaranthe on the trail of an assassin, Sicarius hoping that she won't come back alive. From there it gets crazy and Amaranthe finds herself trying to exonerate herself to saving the emperor to saving the empire, along with a band of merry characters who bicker like 4yos!
Sicarius is a hard guy to read and it took me to book 3 before I started to hope that he had another side to show. I'll give it to Amaranthe, the girl does not discourage easily! This series is 7 books with several little side stories, novellas, etc along the way. I've only read one novella so far but hope to get into another one tonight. I loved this series! I look forward to reading it again. Sometimes I get in such a hurry to see how it ends that I skip along the details to get to the "good stuff" and I found myself doing that with this series. Sometimes the author wants to go off on so many tangents that I can't read it all fast enough BUT this book has ONE (that's right, only one) curse word in the entire series (I think book 6 or 7) and there isn't any sexual situations till the very last book and by then, you're expecting it. It does have sexual innuendos in it but if you're a married woman, this will not cause you to blush and shove the book under a pillow when someone walks into the room. I recommend it! I enjoyed it and I'm thankful to Angela for recommending it to me. I'll add Amazon's book descriptions below:
The Emperor's Edge (book 1):
The adventure starts here...
Imperial law enforcer
Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify
thugs, if not with a blade, then by toppling an eight-foot pile of
coffee canisters onto their heads. But when ravaged bodies show up on
the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful
business coalition plots to kill the emperor, she feels a tad
overwhelmed.
Worse, Sicarius, the empire's most notorious
assassin, is in town. He's tied in with the chaos somehow, but Amaranthe
would be a fool to cross his path. Unfortunately, her superiors order
her to hunt him down. Either they have an unprecedented belief in her
skills... or someone wants her dead.
Dark Currents (book 2):
It’s been three months since former enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon and the
notorious assassin Sicarius thwarted kidnappers and saved the emperor’s
life. The problem? Nobody knows they were responsible for this good
deed. Worse, they’re being blamed for the entire scheme. With enforcers
and bounty hunters stalking them, and the emperor nursing a personal
hatred for Sicarius, it’s going to be hard to earn exoneration.
When Amaranthe’s team discovers mutilated bodies in the city
aqueducts and a mysterious illness incapacitates thousands of citizens,
she and Sicarius see an opportunity to solve the mystery and prove their
loyalty. But they’ll have to defeat vengeful shamans, man-eating
predators, and deadly mechanical constructs, all while dodging imperial
soldiers who would rather kill them than accept their help.
Nobody said exoneration would be easy.
Deadly Games (book 3):
When you’ve been accused of kidnapping an emperor, and every enforcer in
the city wants your head, it’s hard to prove yourself an honorable
person and even harder to earn an imperial pardon.
That doesn’t keep Amaranthe Lokdon and her team of outlaws from
trying. When athletes start disappearing from the Imperial Games, they
may finally have an opportunity to show the emperor that they’re on his
side. If she and her comrades can get to the bottom of such a public
mystery, they’re sure to get the credit.
But plans go awry when Amaranthe’s own men start plotting against
each other, the new ally she’d hoped to acquire tries to turn her in,
and her best fighter—and closest friend—disappears.
Maybe getting involved wasn’t such a good idea after all…
Conspiracy (book 4):
When you’re an outlaw hoping for a pardon, and the emperor personally
sends a note requesting that your team kidnap him, you make plans to
comply…
Even if it’ll involve infiltrating a train full of soldiers,
bodyguards, and spies loyal to a nefarious business coalition that has
numerous reasons to hate you.
Even if it means leaving the city right after you’ve uncovered a secret weapons shipment that might be meant to start a war.
Even if it's a trap...
Blood and Betrayal (book 5):
The last thing Maldynado Montichelu—former aristocrat and current
ladies' man—ever wanted was to be left in charge. After all, the team
just blew up a train, crashed a dirigible, and kidnapped the emperor.
It's kind of an important time.
But, with Amaranthe captured by the nefarious Forge coalition, and
Sicarius off to find her, the team is lacking in leaders. Also, Sicarius
has made it clear that Maldynado’s life may be forfeit should anything
happen to the emperor while he’s gone.
To make matters worse, Forge’s cutthroats are after Sespian, and the
young emperor believes Maldynado's loyalties are suspect. As if it’s
his fault that his older brother is working with the coalition to usurp
the throne. If Maldynado can’t figure out how to earn the emperor’s
trust quickly, Sespian will go off to confront their powerful enemies on
his own.
Meanwhile, Amaranthe must find a way to escape from the coalition’s
newest ally, Master Interrogator Pike, a man who plans to pull all of
the secrets from her head, one way or another…
Forged in Blood I (book 6):
The emperor has been ousted from the throne, his bloodline in question,
and war is descending on the capital. Forge, the nefarious business
coalition that has been manipulating the political situation from the
beginning, has the ultimate weapon at its disposal.
If it was difficult for a small team of outlaws—or, as Amaranthe has
decided they should now be called, rebels—to make a difference before,
it's a monumental task now. If she's to return idealistic young Sespian
to the throne, earn the exoneration she's sought for so long, and help
her closest ally win the respect of the son who detests him, she'll have
to employ an unprecedented new scheme... preferably without destroying
the city—or herself—in the process.
Forged in Blood II (book 7/final):
Amaranthe Lokdon survives her reckless plan to destroy the enemy’s
weapon-filled super aircraft only to learn that thousands of people
perished when it crash landed. Half of her team is missing… or dead.
Meanwhile, the fighting in the capital has escalated, the Imperial
Barracks have been taken by a pretender, and a deadly new danger
threatens the populace. Amaranthe’s hopes of returning Emperor Sespian
to the throne and bringing peace to the empire are dwindling by the
hour.
To make matters worse, her strongest ally—and closest friend—has
been captured and is under a powerful wizard’s control. If she can’t
figure out a way to free Sicarius, he may kill them all when next they
meet…
Friday, July 11, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
The Legends of Regia by Tenaya Jayne
This series has two books and the author is talking of doing a third book but it will be more of a spinoff using a side character from the first two books as the main character for the third book.
These books have vampires, werewolves, elves, humans and shapeshifters...it even has a dryad! But it isn't your classic horror story at all. For the most part there is a gritty side to it. The author doesn't use a ton of foul languag and there really isn't any sexually explicit content. She alludes to sex but there is no details or uncomfortable references. But still there is a grit to it--there is violence and of course, whenever you bring in vampires and werewolves, there is always that dark edge to it. There is a flashback to a rape...again, it is not in gross detail or over-shared but it is in there. But I liked the book. I like the love story, you can kind of see it building up.
At times, I feel like Forest is a little self-loathing and I get impatient with it. Often with a heroine, you get these storylines where the girl is tough, doesn't need anyone, can do it all herself and that is a great heroine in a book. But with Forest, she starts to feel she isn't worthy of this or that, she questions motives, and pushes away love b/c "he's better than me; I can't be what he needs" blah, blah, blah. I get bogged down with it and sometimes I would like a heroine that says "yeah, I'm imperfect but he loves me so I'm gonna jump in!" Despite all that grumbling, I read both books and enjoyed them and I'm curious to see where she takes a third book with another character. She gives you a taste and then backs off a little...a teaser for sure. Below is Amazon's description of the first two books.
Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne:
These books have vampires, werewolves, elves, humans and shapeshifters...it even has a dryad! But it isn't your classic horror story at all. For the most part there is a gritty side to it. The author doesn't use a ton of foul languag and there really isn't any sexually explicit content. She alludes to sex but there is no details or uncomfortable references. But still there is a grit to it--there is violence and of course, whenever you bring in vampires and werewolves, there is always that dark edge to it. There is a flashback to a rape...again, it is not in gross detail or over-shared but it is in there. But I liked the book. I like the love story, you can kind of see it building up.
At times, I feel like Forest is a little self-loathing and I get impatient with it. Often with a heroine, you get these storylines where the girl is tough, doesn't need anyone, can do it all herself and that is a great heroine in a book. But with Forest, she starts to feel she isn't worthy of this or that, she questions motives, and pushes away love b/c "he's better than me; I can't be what he needs" blah, blah, blah. I get bogged down with it and sometimes I would like a heroine that says "yeah, I'm imperfect but he loves me so I'm gonna jump in!" Despite all that grumbling, I read both books and enjoyed them and I'm curious to see where she takes a third book with another character. She gives you a taste and then backs off a little...a teaser for sure. Below is Amazon's description of the first two books.
Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne:
Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Again, I find myself reviewing one of my all-time favorite books and of course, MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE FICTIONAL CRUSH!!! Valek is all that my husband isn't: an assassin, a bad guy with a hint of good, and just overall an impulsive, violent, gruff guy. I'm not at all sure why I love him so much; I just know that I do. And Yelena is a heroine that I want to be like. I want to learn how to fight with a staff b/c of this book. My husband thinks I'm nuts but it's just fun for me. This book is fun for me to read. I really do love the relationships that Yelena has in this book and I'm not even talking about the romantic storyline. She makes friends with two characters that you just have to love: Ari and Janco are so much fun...kinda like brothers but still you wanna crush on them. I don't know if that makes sense but I love them. Snyder has the ability to make her characters lovable...even the bad ones, even the ones that you should dislike b/c they are cranky people, like the Commander, you end up finding them endearing. Maybe it's just me.
This book does have some bad, bad, baddies in this book--there is a somewhat description of a rape in this book so it has it's darkness issues. I tend to be careful about recommending this book to my friends b/c I never know if the dark side of this book will be too much. The reason I read beyond it is b/c the darkness/the rape/the evil villian is part of what makes Yelena so strong. She takes the bad moments are makes them defining moments to help her overcome and become stronger....and really, that's what we all should want to do. Overcome the bad and become better for it. So yes, it's a bit rough in some spots but I love this book....LOVE IT! It's one of my go-to books.
Amazon description:
Murder, mayhem and magic…
Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die—but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose.
But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster—chosen to ensure that the Commander's food is not poisoned—has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed—me—must be offered the position.
This book does have some bad, bad, baddies in this book--there is a somewhat description of a rape in this book so it has it's darkness issues. I tend to be careful about recommending this book to my friends b/c I never know if the dark side of this book will be too much. The reason I read beyond it is b/c the darkness/the rape/the evil villian is part of what makes Yelena so strong. She takes the bad moments are makes them defining moments to help her overcome and become stronger....and really, that's what we all should want to do. Overcome the bad and become better for it. So yes, it's a bit rough in some spots but I love this book....LOVE IT! It's one of my go-to books.
Amazon description:
Murder, mayhem and magic…
Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die—but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose.
But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster—chosen to ensure that the Commander's food is not poisoned—has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed—me—must be offered the position.
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
I love Kelley Armstrong's stuff. She is a great fantasy/slightly horror author. She tends to take a darker side of magic...dealing with necromancers and darker witchy stuff. I will say this: if you don't want to read sex and foul language, then only read her YA stuff. Her adult stuff, while I liked the stories, were a bit too adult...even for an adult, married woman who has 4 children. I was embarassed for my husband to see what I was reading...it's that detailed.
So with that being said:
Sea of Shadows is her newest YA book and I'm excited for her to continue the series. I love how she develops characters. You get just a glimpse of some of them at first but once she takes time to introduce them in detail, it's wonderful! I love the sisters in this series and I had a hard time picking one over the other. Moria is definitely the spunky, fighter sis and I can appeal to that...I'm a bit of a scrapper but she is a little too practical for my taste and I love her little "romancey" plotline. Ashyn is too trusting, too naive, and too soft BUT she is also the dreamer in this series. I have a feeling that Ashyn will get much more mature as the series continues.
Some of this series is a bit dark, a little graphic in the reanimation of dead in this book. If you can stomach that and continue to read for the magical/mystical side of the book, then you will enjoy it. If zombies or necromancers or morbid magic is not your cup of tea, then this book is not for you.
Amazon description:
Twin sisters Moria and Ashyn were marked at birth to become the Keeper and the Seeker of Edgewood, beginning with their sixteenth birthday. Trained in fighting and in the secret rites of the spirits, they lead an annual trip into the Forest of the Dead. There, the veil between the living world and the beyond is thinnest, and the girls pay respect to the spirits who have passed.
But this year, their trip goes dreadfully wrong.
So with that being said:
Sea of Shadows is her newest YA book and I'm excited for her to continue the series. I love how she develops characters. You get just a glimpse of some of them at first but once she takes time to introduce them in detail, it's wonderful! I love the sisters in this series and I had a hard time picking one over the other. Moria is definitely the spunky, fighter sis and I can appeal to that...I'm a bit of a scrapper but she is a little too practical for my taste and I love her little "romancey" plotline. Ashyn is too trusting, too naive, and too soft BUT she is also the dreamer in this series. I have a feeling that Ashyn will get much more mature as the series continues.
Some of this series is a bit dark, a little graphic in the reanimation of dead in this book. If you can stomach that and continue to read for the magical/mystical side of the book, then you will enjoy it. If zombies or necromancers or morbid magic is not your cup of tea, then this book is not for you.
Amazon description:
Twin sisters Moria and Ashyn were marked at birth to become the Keeper and the Seeker of Edgewood, beginning with their sixteenth birthday. Trained in fighting and in the secret rites of the spirits, they lead an annual trip into the Forest of the Dead. There, the veil between the living world and the beyond is thinnest, and the girls pay respect to the spirits who have passed.
But this year, their trip goes dreadfully wrong.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Shadowborn by Moira Katson
So what to say about this book? I'm not going to say much. I usually read a book in two to three days, if it's a good book--I can knock that puppy out in 24 hrs. This book took me over 2 weeks to read and not b/c I was so busy. I found reading it tedious. I was trying to give this book the benefit of the doubt so much. I kept thinking "keep reading; it will pick up soon!" It never picked up. It never got interesting. It was a baseless novel. The story went nowhere not very fast......... It was like the book equivalent of watching paint dry. There are more in the series. I will not be reading them. I'm glad this was a free book and not wasted money. Sorry to be harsh but it was disappointing in so many ways.
Shadowborn (Light and Shadow): amazon description
Catwin has always been good at being unseen…that is, until one fateful mistake brings her to the attention of the Duke of Voltur: the commander of the bloodiest battle in living memory, a man of legendary ruthlessness who is determined to be the power behind the throne. To this end, he has chosen Catwin to be a Shadow—spy, shield, and blade—to his niece Miriel as she works to catch the eye of the King.
But the Duke’s carefully laid plans are only a piece of the intrigue swirling within the royal court. Shadows gather: legacies of the centuries-long rivalries for power, old betrayals, the endless plots of the courtiers, and the murmur of rebellion in the southern provinces.
Greater forces than Catwin can imagine are massed against her, determined to eliminate Miriel and impose a new order of their own. If Catwin and Miriel are to survive, they must learn quickly who to trust, and when to turn their skills against the very people who have trained them...
Shadowborn (Light and Shadow): amazon description
Catwin has always been good at being unseen…that is, until one fateful mistake brings her to the attention of the Duke of Voltur: the commander of the bloodiest battle in living memory, a man of legendary ruthlessness who is determined to be the power behind the throne. To this end, he has chosen Catwin to be a Shadow—spy, shield, and blade—to his niece Miriel as she works to catch the eye of the King.
But the Duke’s carefully laid plans are only a piece of the intrigue swirling within the royal court. Shadows gather: legacies of the centuries-long rivalries for power, old betrayals, the endless plots of the courtiers, and the murmur of rebellion in the southern provinces.
Greater forces than Catwin can imagine are massed against her, determined to eliminate Miriel and impose a new order of their own. If Catwin and Miriel are to survive, they must learn quickly who to trust, and when to turn their skills against the very people who have trained them...
Silver by Talia Vance and Gold by Talia Vance
Okay so Silver is the first book in this series of two by Talia Vance, making Gold, obviously as the sequel. What to say about this series....hmm....well,
1st off--there is sex in this book and the language is almost not bad at all in the first book but Gold has quite a bit of language in it. And I have to say that while the sexual content isn't too bad in the first book, by the second it seems like certain chapters are reserved for talking about how much she loves sleeping with him. I got lost a little bit as I read along. So you might ask "why did she keep reading?' By the time the second book gets to be too much, I was already invested in the story and wanted to see what she did with it. I will say however that thankfully there wasn't a third book b/c I don't know if I would've made it through another one. As it is, she left it somewhat open-ended so I could see the author trying to go for a third book in the series. With all that being said, I don't know that I'd recommend this book. I don't know that it's really something an adult woman would relate to or find as a fun book to read. It had a fantasy quality about it and I was drawn to the Celtic lore aspect of the book but it was very minimal and a disappointment to me. I'll still include the amazon description for anyone who would like to read it.
Silver (amazon description):
Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can’t resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party when Brianna’s charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her that she’s been hiding even from herself.
Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.
But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.
Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.
Gold (amazon description):
Descended from an Irish demigod, Brianna has fled to Ireland to escape destruction at the hands of her sworn enemies, the Sons of Killian. Taking refuge at the estate of her former nemesis, Austin Montgomery, Brianna discovers a rift in time that opens to an era before the feud began.
Wrestling with her newfound feelings for the younger Austin—who she meets a thousand years back in time—Brianna begins to wonder if altering the past could change her future. But when Brianna and the present-day Austin learn that the Sons are raising an army of mythical beasts, the pair will need to combine their magical strength to avoid a tragic destiny.
1st off--there is sex in this book and the language is almost not bad at all in the first book but Gold has quite a bit of language in it. And I have to say that while the sexual content isn't too bad in the first book, by the second it seems like certain chapters are reserved for talking about how much she loves sleeping with him. I got lost a little bit as I read along. So you might ask "why did she keep reading?' By the time the second book gets to be too much, I was already invested in the story and wanted to see what she did with it. I will say however that thankfully there wasn't a third book b/c I don't know if I would've made it through another one. As it is, she left it somewhat open-ended so I could see the author trying to go for a third book in the series. With all that being said, I don't know that I'd recommend this book. I don't know that it's really something an adult woman would relate to or find as a fun book to read. It had a fantasy quality about it and I was drawn to the Celtic lore aspect of the book but it was very minimal and a disappointment to me. I'll still include the amazon description for anyone who would like to read it.
Silver (amazon description):
Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can’t resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party when Brianna’s charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her that she’s been hiding even from herself.
Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.
But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.
Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.
Gold (amazon description):
Descended from an Irish demigod, Brianna has fled to Ireland to escape destruction at the hands of her sworn enemies, the Sons of Killian. Taking refuge at the estate of her former nemesis, Austin Montgomery, Brianna discovers a rift in time that opens to an era before the feud began.
Wrestling with her newfound feelings for the younger Austin—who she meets a thousand years back in time—Brianna begins to wonder if altering the past could change her future. But when Brianna and the present-day Austin learn that the Sons are raising an army of mythical beasts, the pair will need to combine their magical strength to avoid a tragic destiny.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
So, have you ever had an ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK THAT YOU READ WHENEVER YOU WANT B/C IT'S JUST THAT GOOD AND YOU HAVE READ IT ANYTIME AND EVERYTIME AND ALL THE TIME!
Well, this is my book for all that up there that I just said. I love Crown Duel (which is actually two books put into one publishing and as an added bonus, they published an extra short story and several excerpts telling different parts in the novel from the male's point of view).
I got this book from the library and at first I thought "I don't get it" but I kept reading and now, it seriously is one of my all time favorite books. There is an evil king, a fierce yet clueless heroine with a sweet sidekick brother, an intriguing marquis who you can't decide if you love him or hate him, sword fights, a little bit of subtle magic, all sorts of misunderstandings and some good little sarcastic quips to share between characters. There is no foul language, it is set in a time when modesty is the height of courtly fashion and it is just a different kind of tale but shows some parallels to Pride and Prejudice. I also love that the heroine is a hapless, slightly ignorant, runt of a woman who has enough spunk to make up for her short stature...reminds me of---me! I will include the amazon description of the book below but really, read this book! Then call me and let's discuss!
Amazon description:
Well, this is my book for all that up there that I just said. I love Crown Duel (which is actually two books put into one publishing and as an added bonus, they published an extra short story and several excerpts telling different parts in the novel from the male's point of view).
I got this book from the library and at first I thought "I don't get it" but I kept reading and now, it seriously is one of my all time favorite books. There is an evil king, a fierce yet clueless heroine with a sweet sidekick brother, an intriguing marquis who you can't decide if you love him or hate him, sword fights, a little bit of subtle magic, all sorts of misunderstandings and some good little sarcastic quips to share between characters. There is no foul language, it is set in a time when modesty is the height of courtly fashion and it is just a different kind of tale but shows some parallels to Pride and Prejudice. I also love that the heroine is a hapless, slightly ignorant, runt of a woman who has enough spunk to make up for her short stature...reminds me of---me! I will include the amazon description of the book below but really, read this book! Then call me and let's discuss!
Amazon description:
Over their father’s deathbed, young Meliara Astiar and her brother Branaric promise to lead their people against the evil King. The impoverished count and countess discover that even when the cause is right, leading a war is much tougher than it appears. When Meliara falls into the hands of the elegant Marquis of Shevraeth, the enemy commander, she knows she has to either escape or die. After a desperate chase across country, she discovers that she and Bran are not alone—but the alliance is offered by the person she hates the most.
Once the king is gone, she faces a new type of battlefield: not muddy fields and sharpened steel, but marble palaces. The weapons now are fashion, manners, and the subtle and secret language of fans. Finally, there is the toughest challenge of all, courtship. For how do you defend yourself when the one who draws your eye, and your heart, is your worst enemy?
Crown Duel, once published as Crown Duel and Court Duel, was put together with an added story by Firebird in 2003.
Once the king is gone, she faces a new type of battlefield: not muddy fields and sharpened steel, but marble palaces. The weapons now are fashion, manners, and the subtle and secret language of fans. Finally, there is the toughest challenge of all, courtship. For how do you defend yourself when the one who draws your eye, and your heart, is your worst enemy?
Crown Duel, once published as Crown Duel and Court Duel, was put together with an added story by Firebird in 2003.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Of Sea and Stone (Secrets of Itlantis) by Kate Avery Ellison
Fresh off of another series by Ellison, I decided to give this new series a shot. I say new series but as of today, she's only done the first book. I mentioned in an earlier post that I like Ellison's work. I've read one series of hers and two independent novels and loved them all. There is a limited amount of language in her books and by limited, I mean in one book there were FOUR words. Otherwise, no bad language, no sexually explicit scenes. They are good, clean cut, fun books with a hint of mythical or fantastical elements. I like that. So let's get underway with this book.
Amazon description:
If only we'd known how many secrets the sea held...
All her life, clever Aemi has been a slave in the Village of the Rocks, a place where the sea and sky meet. She’s heard the stories about the fabled People of the Sea, a people who possess unimaginable technology who live below the waves in the dark, secret places of the ocean. But she never dreamed those stories were true.
When a ship emerges from the ocean and men burn her village, Aemi is captured, and enslaved below the waves in Itlantis, a world filled with ancient cities of glass and metal, floating gardens, and wondrous devices that seem to work magic. To make matters worse, her village nemesis, the stuck-up mayor’s son Nol, was captured with her, and they are made servants in the same household beneath the sea.
Desperate to be free, Aemi plots her escape, even going so far as to work with Nol. But the sea holds more secrets than she realizes, and escape might not be as simple as leaving...
My opinion:
I like this book alot. She manages to make an interesting character in Aemi. I do think she introduces alot of side characters, even some just briefly. I'm sure that some of them will reappear in later books and perhaps that is why we glimpse them in the first book. It will obviously take some rereading by the time the next book is introduced. There is no bad language, no sex, not even real violence. There is a kiss! One kiss! So enjoy it when you get to it! The romance in this book is subtle, you have to go a long ways to find it but I think that makes the book more appealing in a way.
Amazon description:
If only we'd known how many secrets the sea held...
All her life, clever Aemi has been a slave in the Village of the Rocks, a place where the sea and sky meet. She’s heard the stories about the fabled People of the Sea, a people who possess unimaginable technology who live below the waves in the dark, secret places of the ocean. But she never dreamed those stories were true.
When a ship emerges from the ocean and men burn her village, Aemi is captured, and enslaved below the waves in Itlantis, a world filled with ancient cities of glass and metal, floating gardens, and wondrous devices that seem to work magic. To make matters worse, her village nemesis, the stuck-up mayor’s son Nol, was captured with her, and they are made servants in the same household beneath the sea.
Desperate to be free, Aemi plots her escape, even going so far as to work with Nol. But the sea holds more secrets than she realizes, and escape might not be as simple as leaving...
My opinion:
I like this book alot. She manages to make an interesting character in Aemi. I do think she introduces alot of side characters, even some just briefly. I'm sure that some of them will reappear in later books and perhaps that is why we glimpse them in the first book. It will obviously take some rereading by the time the next book is introduced. There is no bad language, no sex, not even real violence. There is a kiss! One kiss! So enjoy it when you get to it! The romance in this book is subtle, you have to go a long ways to find it but I think that makes the book more appealing in a way.
Aeralis (The Frost Chronicles) by Kate Avery Ellison
SPOILER ALERT: THIS IS THE 5TH AND FINAL BOOK OF THE FROST CHRONICLES. DO NOT READ REVIEW UNLESS YOU HAVE READ FROST, THORNS, WEAVERS, AND BLUEWING OF THE FROST CHRONICLES!!!!
Amazon description:
Amazon description:
~BOOK 5 IN THE FROST CHRONICLES~
Safety is never certain...
Every family has secrets...
Even your own can turn against you.
Lia Weaver and her ragtag band of fugitives and renegades have finally driven the Farther soldiers from the Frost, but turmoil continues in the wake of the occupation. Lia uncovers a letter that hints at yet another family secret, one that will change everything she's ever known. Ann Mayor and her father have found themselves the target of violence for their fraternization with the Farthers. The villagers are fighting amongst themselves, making accusations and threats. Meanwhile, Jonn’s life hangs in the balance.
When an unexpected enemy surfaces in the Frost and endangers Ivy's life, Lia faces a terrible choice. Defying Thorns orders, she sets out to to save her family and find answers in Aeralis.
Safety is never certain...
Every family has secrets...
Even your own can turn against you.
Lia Weaver and her ragtag band of fugitives and renegades have finally driven the Farther soldiers from the Frost, but turmoil continues in the wake of the occupation. Lia uncovers a letter that hints at yet another family secret, one that will change everything she's ever known. Ann Mayor and her father have found themselves the target of violence for their fraternization with the Farthers. The villagers are fighting amongst themselves, making accusations and threats. Meanwhile, Jonn’s life hangs in the balance.
When an unexpected enemy surfaces in the Frost and endangers Ivy's life, Lia faces a terrible choice. Defying Thorns orders, she sets out to to save her family and find answers in Aeralis.
My opinion:
I won't say much b/c this is the final book. I am happy with the way the author ended the series and I'm happy with the direction she took it. I think sometimes authors can lose a group of fans simply on how they end the series. If they don't go the way you want or end up with the person you want or the author kills off your favorite character then you are done, just that easily they lose a fan of the series. Some people complain the JK Rowling did not put enough information in her epilogue to the Harry Potter series. If anything, I feel that Ellison put too much info into her epilogue. I like how she ended the series and then with one little paragraph in the epilogue she kinda took away the happiness I was experiencing. I can't tell you specifics; it would spoil, spoil, spoil. BUT I'm curious to see how you feel after you've finished the book? Btw, there is no language or sexual content in this book!
I should add that Ellison does 3 short stories (novellettes) to this series. One is Brewer, a short story told by Adam's point of view. Fugitive is Gabe's point of view and Survival Lessons: A Frost Short Story is a short story that has no correlation to Lia's tale and is just a side story that I enjoyed. They are all short and could be read in 30 minutes. And I may be biased (okay, I'm totally biased) but Brewer is my fave of the three!
I should add that Ellison does 3 short stories (novellettes) to this series. One is Brewer, a short story told by Adam's point of view. Fugitive is Gabe's point of view and Survival Lessons: A Frost Short Story is a short story that has no correlation to Lia's tale and is just a side story that I enjoyed. They are all short and could be read in 30 minutes. And I may be biased (okay, I'm totally biased) but Brewer is my fave of the three!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Thorns, Weavers, and Bluewing by Kate Avery Ellison
SPOILER ALERT: THESE BOOKS ARE BOOKS 2, 3, AND 4 OF A SERIES! PLEASE DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES "FROST".
Thorns
Description from Amazon:
BOOK 2 IN THE FROST CHRONICLES~
Lia Weaver went against everything she’d ever known when she risked her life to help a Farther fugitive named Gabe escape from the Aeralian soldiers, and her life changed forever. And the Frost changed, too—the Farthers have taken over her village, a new group of vigilantes calling themselves the Blackcoats are making plans to overthrow the Farther occupiers, and the Thorns are seeking for her to join them.
Lia seeks to fight back against the evil and injustice that has swallowed up her home, but danger lurks at every turn. The monsters that dwell in the deepest regions of the Frost are growing bolder and more dangerous every day, a Farther noble takes up residence in the village on a mysterious mission, and Lia discovers even more secrets embedded in her past.
As the frozen world of the Frost grows even more perilous, can Lia survive?
Thorns
Description from Amazon:
BOOK 2 IN THE FROST CHRONICLES~
Lia Weaver went against everything she’d ever known when she risked her life to help a Farther fugitive named Gabe escape from the Aeralian soldiers, and her life changed forever. And the Frost changed, too—the Farthers have taken over her village, a new group of vigilantes calling themselves the Blackcoats are making plans to overthrow the Farther occupiers, and the Thorns are seeking for her to join them.
Lia seeks to fight back against the evil and injustice that has swallowed up her home, but danger lurks at every turn. The monsters that dwell in the deepest regions of the Frost are growing bolder and more dangerous every day, a Farther noble takes up residence in the village on a mysterious mission, and Lia discovers even more secrets embedded in her past.
As the frozen world of the Frost grows even more perilous, can Lia survive?
Monday, March 10, 2014
Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
So I kinda realized that as I review these books, I tell you what I think (which is good) but I might not be so good at describing what the book is about so here's my new and improved version. I'm going to share the amazon book description first and then tell you my opinion!
Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Book Description:
Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Book Description:
In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.
She saves his life.
Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.
But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.
Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?
She saves his life.
Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.
But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.
Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Dryad-Born (Whispers from Mirrowen book #2) by Jeff Wheeler
SPOILER ALERT!! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE READ "FIREBLOOD" BY JEFF WHEELER. THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK IN A SERIES!
I have to give Jeff Wheeler credit, he is a good author. I love this one even more than the first one. He finally gives Hettie and Paedrin some closure and manages to bring in 3 new characters that have me on the edge of my seat. Again, no bad language, no sexuality, a good clean book. And it is almost too complex! I'm kinda good at telling where the author is going. Usually I can figure out how the story is going to resolve itself. That is not the case in this book. Wheeler manages to twist the plot so many ways that I had to tell myself to slow down and focus so that I could remember details later.
The only downside of the book is that he almost has too many characters. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy meeting Tyrus' daughter in this book and he brings in two fellas that will kill to protect her. I like where he is taking that story line. But we also have a new Rike and another new bodyguard. So that's at least 5 supporting characters and he only kills 2 off so we're suddenly overloaded with people to follow and there are about 4 storylines going on at the same time.
He does manage to bring them all together toward the end so that he can leave it as a cliffhanger! Kinda bummed about that. But he does say that he's a 3 books in a series kinda guy so I can wait for the last one. It will be a nice fantasy read.
I have to give Jeff Wheeler credit, he is a good author. I love this one even more than the first one. He finally gives Hettie and Paedrin some closure and manages to bring in 3 new characters that have me on the edge of my seat. Again, no bad language, no sexuality, a good clean book. And it is almost too complex! I'm kinda good at telling where the author is going. Usually I can figure out how the story is going to resolve itself. That is not the case in this book. Wheeler manages to twist the plot so many ways that I had to tell myself to slow down and focus so that I could remember details later.
The only downside of the book is that he almost has too many characters. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy meeting Tyrus' daughter in this book and he brings in two fellas that will kill to protect her. I like where he is taking that story line. But we also have a new Rike and another new bodyguard. So that's at least 5 supporting characters and he only kills 2 off so we're suddenly overloaded with people to follow and there are about 4 storylines going on at the same time.
He does manage to bring them all together toward the end so that he can leave it as a cliffhanger! Kinda bummed about that. But he does say that he's a 3 books in a series kinda guy so I can wait for the last one. It will be a nice fantasy read.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Fireblood (Whispers from Mirrowen) by Jeff Wheeler
I'll start off with saying that this book has no bad language and sexual innuendos. It is a great book for a young adult. Good, clean book. I will also say that I tend to not read books by male authors. I know, forgive me...it's sexist. But the truth is that sometimes male authors are horrible at writing about female characters and they tend to bog me down in details. But I enjoyed this book so much that I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. His writing reminds me a little of Tolkien in the details and the "nature" aspect. This book has dryads and nature spirits (good and bad ones). It has a male main character but the entourage of characters include a few gals as well. So the synopsis:
Annon is a Druidecht, a person who can speak to the nature spirits. A mediator between man (who can't see the spirits) and the spirits (who are only mean when they have to be). Think "nature-loving Merlin", who discovers at age 18 that he has a twin sister. She was stolen at birth by the Romani (think gypsies) and starting on her 8th birthday she was sold into service. Every 10 yrs, she is resold but as her 18th birthday approaches, she is hoping to buy her freedom from service. Now that Annon knows she exists, he'll do everything he can to help her. But he, Hettie (his sister) and their protector (Phaedrin) find out that the journey is far more complex and twisted than they imagined.
The fun thing about this book is that right about the time you think it should end or the author is coming to a conclusion, he adds a twist and extends the story. Another great thing is that he tells the story from various points of view....Annon, Hettie, Phaedrin, Tyrus, even the bad guys sometimes. He gives you a little bit of insight into everyone's thoughts, motives, and secret ambitions. This is particularly fun when he plays Hettie off of Phaedrin. Everyone can see that the arguing behind the two is built-up attraction, except of course for the two involved. I also like Annon developing a crush toward the end of the book. He is sweet and awkward and you totally want to play matchmaker for the dear boy.
The sequel is now out and I'm looking forward to reading it soon. I really recommend this book, esp for fantasy lovers who want some adventure and magic with only a hint of romance (it is written by a man). It is also a good book for high school, maybe even jr. high. Pretty fantasical read.
Annon is a Druidecht, a person who can speak to the nature spirits. A mediator between man (who can't see the spirits) and the spirits (who are only mean when they have to be). Think "nature-loving Merlin", who discovers at age 18 that he has a twin sister. She was stolen at birth by the Romani (think gypsies) and starting on her 8th birthday she was sold into service. Every 10 yrs, she is resold but as her 18th birthday approaches, she is hoping to buy her freedom from service. Now that Annon knows she exists, he'll do everything he can to help her. But he, Hettie (his sister) and their protector (Phaedrin) find out that the journey is far more complex and twisted than they imagined.
The fun thing about this book is that right about the time you think it should end or the author is coming to a conclusion, he adds a twist and extends the story. Another great thing is that he tells the story from various points of view....Annon, Hettie, Phaedrin, Tyrus, even the bad guys sometimes. He gives you a little bit of insight into everyone's thoughts, motives, and secret ambitions. This is particularly fun when he plays Hettie off of Phaedrin. Everyone can see that the arguing behind the two is built-up attraction, except of course for the two involved. I also like Annon developing a crush toward the end of the book. He is sweet and awkward and you totally want to play matchmaker for the dear boy.
The sequel is now out and I'm looking forward to reading it soon. I really recommend this book, esp for fantasy lovers who want some adventure and magic with only a hint of romance (it is written by a man). It is also a good book for high school, maybe even jr. high. Pretty fantasical read.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain-Book 1) by Lloyd Alexander
This book was lent to me by a friend. She said it was a good series and thought I would enjoy it. The funny thing is that I bought this series a few years ago b/c the second book (The Black Cauldron) is a Disney movie, considered somewhat a classic even though it's a pretty dark movie. So I had this series a few years ago, never got around to reading it and decided to give the books away b/c I wouldn't get around to them. But here it is again, right in front of me, with a friend's recommendation, so I have to read it, right? And read it, I did.
So the title is a bit off. There is mention of the Book of Three but it's not a dominate theme in this book. Taran is the "assistant pig-keeper" which is a fancy title for farmhand. He works on a farm. He has no memory of parents or beginnings of his life. He just always knows of working on a farm as a farmhand for two men who are surrogate fathers. He dreams of swordplay and adventure, travelling with knights and battling evil! Be careful what you wish for! He indeed finds adventure, comes face to face with evil sorcerors and fights with a sword and realizes that it is not as fun as you would think. He also meets a few interesting folks along the way who, of course, become part of his gangly crew to help him battle the Horned King! This is clearly the first book in a series and leaves off the ending as such. He's still telling a tale here and he's not even going to sum it up to a clean end for book 1. He wants you to read book 2! You won't find closure or even a fair little ending to get you to sleep easier at night. I haven't read book 2 but I'll be sure to let you know where he goes with it!
So the title is a bit off. There is mention of the Book of Three but it's not a dominate theme in this book. Taran is the "assistant pig-keeper" which is a fancy title for farmhand. He works on a farm. He has no memory of parents or beginnings of his life. He just always knows of working on a farm as a farmhand for two men who are surrogate fathers. He dreams of swordplay and adventure, travelling with knights and battling evil! Be careful what you wish for! He indeed finds adventure, comes face to face with evil sorcerors and fights with a sword and realizes that it is not as fun as you would think. He also meets a few interesting folks along the way who, of course, become part of his gangly crew to help him battle the Horned King! This is clearly the first book in a series and leaves off the ending as such. He's still telling a tale here and he's not even going to sum it up to a clean end for book 1. He wants you to read book 2! You won't find closure or even a fair little ending to get you to sleep easier at night. I haven't read book 2 but I'll be sure to let you know where he goes with it!
Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep
THIS BOOK IS THE SIXTH BOOK IN A SERIES--MYTHOS ACADEMY! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE READ BOOKS 1-5! SPOILER ALERT!
I was sooooo excited for this book to come out. While I'm always sad when a book series ends, I also LOVE the conclusion, having closure, and seeing the characters get their happily ever after or their kinda happily ever after. This book of course comes to a climax with Gwen in the final battle versus Loki! I love what she did with Gwen striking out on her own but realizing that she needed her friends' help after. It was a nice way to say that sometimes you have to rely on your friends. I love the way she handles Gwen's relationship with Logan. Love is not always easy; it is NEVER "oh we're sooo in love and we will forever be this way!" Sometimes you argue, you hurt each other's feelings, and you downright screw up! Love is doing all those things and still finding your way back to each other. I do think that she kinda rushed things at the end. She kinda got so into the details and suddenly realized she was running out of paper so hurried through the final battle, but I'm finding that to be a common thing in writing lately. She ties up the loose ends, gives each character a nice little final package, and she also leaves it open for possible future books if she feels so inclined. I could easily see her taking off with writing a story for Daphne, Rory or even Oliver. I will also say that I saw some similarities with Harry Potter. Maybe it was the whole "destiny and final battle against the ultimate evil" thing....that is a common thing in literature. Anyway, a great book! Loved it! Loved the conclusion and wrapping up of some of my favorite characters! Totally would read any additional series that might stem off of this one.
I was sooooo excited for this book to come out. While I'm always sad when a book series ends, I also LOVE the conclusion, having closure, and seeing the characters get their happily ever after or their kinda happily ever after. This book of course comes to a climax with Gwen in the final battle versus Loki! I love what she did with Gwen striking out on her own but realizing that she needed her friends' help after. It was a nice way to say that sometimes you have to rely on your friends. I love the way she handles Gwen's relationship with Logan. Love is not always easy; it is NEVER "oh we're sooo in love and we will forever be this way!" Sometimes you argue, you hurt each other's feelings, and you downright screw up! Love is doing all those things and still finding your way back to each other. I do think that she kinda rushed things at the end. She kinda got so into the details and suddenly realized she was running out of paper so hurried through the final battle, but I'm finding that to be a common thing in writing lately. She ties up the loose ends, gives each character a nice little final package, and she also leaves it open for possible future books if she feels so inclined. I could easily see her taking off with writing a story for Daphne, Rory or even Oliver. I will also say that I saw some similarities with Harry Potter. Maybe it was the whole "destiny and final battle against the ultimate evil" thing....that is a common thing in literature. Anyway, a great book! Loved it! Loved the conclusion and wrapping up of some of my favorite characters! Totally would read any additional series that might stem off of this one.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Ruined by Paula Morris and Dark Souls also by Paula Morris
So I got these two books at my kids' book fair last year. They were in the middle school section and were $2.50/each! Who can pass up a deal like that? So I'll be real. These books are a quick read. I read each in under a day. They are for teen audience which is kinda nice....no swear words, no sexual innuendos, and really just kind of a sweet "crush" scenarios going on--nothing hot and heavy. They were both, however, ghost stories. Now here's the weird part that some of you may roll your eyes at--I'll read vampires, werewolves, fairies and so forth. That stuff doesn't bother me. But I believe in ghosts...I really do....malevolent spirits and all that jazz, I think it's real so I'm hesitant to read "ghost stories" b/c some of that stuff to me feels plausible. With that being said, I still read these books and they didn't freak me out too much. So let's start:
Ruined by Paula Morris
Rebecca is a 15 year old girl who is transplanted from her happy little life in New York City to New Orleans, three years after Hurricane Katrina. She doesn't really fit in with her new classmates and she feels like the lady she lives with (an old family friend that she calls "Aunt") is a little wonky. She manages to make friends with a friendly ghost in the neighborhood cemetery and catches the eye of a cute fella that seems to have everyone's attention.
With that little synopsis, I liked this book. As previously stated, it's a quick read. The ghostly stuff is NOT creepy or "make me want to read it in the daylight hours only". It's a good, quick book. Rebecca is a bit naive but she's only 15. The crush storyline is cute and totally confusing for a teenage girl so I get it. And really, it has a fun twist at the end that makes you say "I should've seen that coming".
Dark Souls by Paula Morris
While this book is by the same author, it is a completely separate story from Ruined. Miranda realizes that she can see ghosts after she is in a car accident with her best friend and brother. While she and her brother survive the crash, her friend does not and she and her brother are taken to England for a family vacation 6 months after the fact. She and her brother both are suffering survivor guilt to an extent. In York, she meets an English guy who can explain some things to her b/c he can see ghosts too. But thing are mysterious and it takes the author awhile to unravel everything. Now, while this book is a quick read and I do like some things, it gets dark toward the end (should've seen that coming with the title, huh?). As above mentioned, I don't like the whole "dark souls" part of the book and I kinda had to remind myself of puppies and kittens at a few moments. But still, I finished it and wasn't too disappointed. I will say that I liked a part at the end when Miranda discovers that she can see ghosts b/c "there has been some great sadness in your life to make you open to the unhappy currents of the spirit world." The character also states that he stops seeing ghosts b/c he "was so happy that I think I couldn't see unhappiness anymore." I think this is kind of a cool way to apply to many life scenarios. Just think about it a bit.
Ruined by Paula Morris
Rebecca is a 15 year old girl who is transplanted from her happy little life in New York City to New Orleans, three years after Hurricane Katrina. She doesn't really fit in with her new classmates and she feels like the lady she lives with (an old family friend that she calls "Aunt") is a little wonky. She manages to make friends with a friendly ghost in the neighborhood cemetery and catches the eye of a cute fella that seems to have everyone's attention.
With that little synopsis, I liked this book. As previously stated, it's a quick read. The ghostly stuff is NOT creepy or "make me want to read it in the daylight hours only". It's a good, quick book. Rebecca is a bit naive but she's only 15. The crush storyline is cute and totally confusing for a teenage girl so I get it. And really, it has a fun twist at the end that makes you say "I should've seen that coming".
Dark Souls by Paula Morris
While this book is by the same author, it is a completely separate story from Ruined. Miranda realizes that she can see ghosts after she is in a car accident with her best friend and brother. While she and her brother survive the crash, her friend does not and she and her brother are taken to England for a family vacation 6 months after the fact. She and her brother both are suffering survivor guilt to an extent. In York, she meets an English guy who can explain some things to her b/c he can see ghosts too. But thing are mysterious and it takes the author awhile to unravel everything. Now, while this book is a quick read and I do like some things, it gets dark toward the end (should've seen that coming with the title, huh?). As above mentioned, I don't like the whole "dark souls" part of the book and I kinda had to remind myself of puppies and kittens at a few moments. But still, I finished it and wasn't too disappointed. I will say that I liked a part at the end when Miranda discovers that she can see ghosts b/c "there has been some great sadness in your life to make you open to the unhappy currents of the spirit world." The character also states that he stops seeing ghosts b/c he "was so happy that I think I couldn't see unhappiness anymore." I think this is kind of a cool way to apply to many life scenarios. Just think about it a bit.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
100 Characters from Classical Mythology by Malcolm Day
I know what you're thinking.....why would she review a reference book? And frankly, I did b/c I have a week before the last Mythos Academy book comes out and I figured that now was the time to refresh my knowledge of Greek mythology. This book covers Greek and Roman mythology and it was nice to pick up on names from the Mythos Academy....Nike, Metis, Ajax and so on. But this is just a brief compilation. Each god/person gets one page..no more! So it's pretty summed up in neat little packages.
The last thing, and really the only thing, that I wanted to say is....mythology parallels the Bible in so many ways....did you know there is a Greek Noah? And Pandora is the Greek Eve? Don't even get me started on how many times greeks were asked to sacrifice their child like Abraham! Whew! Who knew? I mean, maybe I knew but I never paid attention. Just an interesting tidbit. And let's be honest, now you wanna read it!
The last thing, and really the only thing, that I wanted to say is....mythology parallels the Bible in so many ways....did you know there is a Greek Noah? And Pandora is the Greek Eve? Don't even get me started on how many times greeks were asked to sacrifice their child like Abraham! Whew! Who knew? I mean, maybe I knew but I never paid attention. Just an interesting tidbit. And let's be honest, now you wanna read it!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Crimson Frost, Spartan Frost, and Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep
SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT READ THE REVIEWS TO THESE BOOKS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "TOUCH OF FROST" WHICH IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE MYTHOS ACADEMY SERIES. CRIMSON FROST IS BOOK 4 IN THIS SERIES.
Crimson Frost (book 4 of Mythos Academy)
In Crimson Frost, Gwen finally meets Logan's father, while on a date with Logan, when his father comes to arrest her! Not the best first impressions. Gwen is accused of what happened at the end of book 3. While book 3 in my opinion is a nice, dark side of Gwen and her power, in book 4 she is now accountable for what has been set in motion. She continues to rush into situations and do what she thinks is right but she doesn't have quite the support system she might hope for. However, it also brings about a kinder side to her relationship with Nickamedes (which is one reason I like this book). This book is more a necessary read to get to book 5 which is WAY more fun in my opinion.
Spartan Frost (book 4.5 of Mythos Academy)
This is a novella (a really short book) that is told from Logan's side after he leaves Mythos Academy. I LOVE IT! I love seeing the side of the male love interest. I love seeing how he feels about her, even if he's apart from her. I love it! But DON'T READ IT UNTIL YOU'VE READ ALL THE PREVIOUS BOOKS!
Midnight Frost (Book 5 of Mythos Academy)
Logan is gone. Gwen is sad. Nickamedes is poisoned. And that's just the first few chapters! I love the journey Gwen takes in this book. She's going to face reapers. She's going to venture out without her Spartan hero by her side. And she meets someone from her past that can give her insight into her family! It's a whole 'nother side to bring to the storyline. I think that's why I like it. Jennifer Estep brings a new angle into the plot right about the time you thought you were in a groove (or even a rut) with this being the fifth book. I like where she takes it, I like how she resolves it and I'm looking forward to the final book in this series!
Crimson Frost (book 4 of Mythos Academy)
In Crimson Frost, Gwen finally meets Logan's father, while on a date with Logan, when his father comes to arrest her! Not the best first impressions. Gwen is accused of what happened at the end of book 3. While book 3 in my opinion is a nice, dark side of Gwen and her power, in book 4 she is now accountable for what has been set in motion. She continues to rush into situations and do what she thinks is right but she doesn't have quite the support system she might hope for. However, it also brings about a kinder side to her relationship with Nickamedes (which is one reason I like this book). This book is more a necessary read to get to book 5 which is WAY more fun in my opinion.
Spartan Frost (book 4.5 of Mythos Academy)
This is a novella (a really short book) that is told from Logan's side after he leaves Mythos Academy. I LOVE IT! I love seeing the side of the male love interest. I love seeing how he feels about her, even if he's apart from her. I love it! But DON'T READ IT UNTIL YOU'VE READ ALL THE PREVIOUS BOOKS!
Midnight Frost (Book 5 of Mythos Academy)
Logan is gone. Gwen is sad. Nickamedes is poisoned. And that's just the first few chapters! I love the journey Gwen takes in this book. She's going to face reapers. She's going to venture out without her Spartan hero by her side. And she meets someone from her past that can give her insight into her family! It's a whole 'nother side to bring to the storyline. I think that's why I like it. Jennifer Estep brings a new angle into the plot right about the time you thought you were in a groove (or even a rut) with this being the fifth book. I like where she takes it, I like how she resolves it and I'm looking forward to the final book in this series!
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Kiss of Frost and Dark Frost (Books 2 and 3 of Mythos Academy series) by Jennifer Estep
SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT READ REVIEWS OF KISS OF FROST AND DARK FROST UNTIL YOU HAVE READ TOUCH OF FROST! THESE BOOKS ARE BOOK 2 AND 3 OF SERIES AND CONTAIN SPOILER INFORMATION!
Kiss of Frost (Book 2 of Mythos Academy)
I won't say much about these books b/c they are primarily a continuation of Book 1. Kiss of Frost has Gwen growing more into her place at Mythos Academy. She now has a few friends and is trying to become her own warrior. She doesn't like relying on everyone else to save her. She also struggles with the crush on Logan and the "will it go anywhere" factor. All I will say about that is the book IS called KISS of Frost. Think what you like about that.
Also, there are very few sexual suggestions in this book. Estep seems to have gotten some of that silliness out of her system. There is still language in the book and I don't really see that easing up much. Still I like this book. I like what it leads up to......
Dark Frost (Book 3 of Mythos Academy)
The title says it all! This is a darker book (probably the darkest of the series). Gwen learns a lot about her powers and what she is really capable of. With that being said, I like it most b/c of that. I like that Gwen learns who she really is, what's really expected of her, and she kind of wakes up and realizes that this is not a dream. She has to step up and put on her big girl panties. It kind of reminds me of Luke Skywalker in "Empire Strikes Back" as he learns about how to be a jedi and he has to take on his "fa-ther". This is definitely Gwen's defining moments book....but no worries-Loki is NOT Gwen's father :)
Kiss of Frost (Book 2 of Mythos Academy)
I won't say much about these books b/c they are primarily a continuation of Book 1. Kiss of Frost has Gwen growing more into her place at Mythos Academy. She now has a few friends and is trying to become her own warrior. She doesn't like relying on everyone else to save her. She also struggles with the crush on Logan and the "will it go anywhere" factor. All I will say about that is the book IS called KISS of Frost. Think what you like about that.
Also, there are very few sexual suggestions in this book. Estep seems to have gotten some of that silliness out of her system. There is still language in the book and I don't really see that easing up much. Still I like this book. I like what it leads up to......
Dark Frost (Book 3 of Mythos Academy)
The title says it all! This is a darker book (probably the darkest of the series). Gwen learns a lot about her powers and what she is really capable of. With that being said, I like it most b/c of that. I like that Gwen learns who she really is, what's really expected of her, and she kind of wakes up and realizes that this is not a dream. She has to step up and put on her big girl panties. It kind of reminds me of Luke Skywalker in "Empire Strikes Back" as he learns about how to be a jedi and he has to take on his "fa-ther". This is definitely Gwen's defining moments book....but no worries-Loki is NOT Gwen's father :)
Monday, February 10, 2014
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Touch of Frost is the first book in the Mythos Academy series. The book takes place in modern day North Carolina. Gwen Frost is a 17 year old girl that has had the gift of psychometry her whole life. Pyschometry is the ability to see a person's feelings/memories/entire life simply by touching them (skin to skin). Six months prior Gwen's mother dies in a car accident and then she is sent to Mythos Academy, a boarding school of sorts. Only at Mythos Academy all the students are warrior kids....Valkyries, Amazons, Spartans, Ninjas, and so on. The awesome thing about this book is that it covers mythology but not just Greek or Roman mythology. Jennifer Estep incorporates Norse mythology (Loki is the big bad villian), Celtic mythology and even Russian mythological warriors. As someone who loves all kinds of myth/fantasy, this series appeals to me. She even brings in ninjas in later books. Gwen feels out of place, the loser to all these warriors. Yeah, she has the gift of touch magic and she's known her whole life that she is a Gypsy but she hasn't been trained to be a warrior. Her mother and grandmother sheltered her from all of it and therefore she hasn't been prepared for what life really is like among the Mythos Academy kids. Also, at first, Gwen doesn't really believe in all this stuff.....after all, mythology is just myth, right?
Again, I have to say that I love this series. First off, Gwen is a girl after my own heart. She's a little bit of a geek, kind of average looking, and considers herself nothing special but this first book is her discovery that she might be more than she realizes. I love the little love drama that begins as well. Now, this book has foul language. Not really bad words but enough curse words that are frequent that I need to mention it. I will also mention that there are some sexual suggestions, no sex or graphic detail but she does talk about/imply that teenage sex is a part of the boarding school experience (I wouldn't know). BUT the first book is the worst of the series in regards to this. There is very little bad language or sexual suggestion in the following books. Also, I started to read one of Jennifer Estep's adult books (this is considered Young Adult) and the best I can say is DON'T READ IT if you don't want to read explicit sex scenes and foul, foul language. The young adult series is cleaner and in my opinion, better.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I love how Estep covers all kinds of mythology. I actually tried to find other reference books that talk about various mythology so I could better understand references she makes. It is easy to find out stuff about Greek, Roman and even Norse mythology but Celtic, Russian, and Asian lore are harder to find. I love the gods and goddesses that she brings to the story as well as the various warriors, artifacts and weapons. This series helps add fuel to my desire to learn to fight with a bow (or long staff). I really think I could do it (not that my husband is in any hurry to let me try)!
I would gladly recommend this to my friends. If you are sensitive to foul language, I would say "try to soldier through it b/c it does get cleaner as the series goes on". Really, I've read this series at least 5 times. I enjoy it! And she is still adding to the series!
Entangled, a Paranormal Anthology (misc. authors)
This is a collection of short stories and the first story is Halloween Frost. This takes Gwen through the Halloween holiday. It touches a little bit on her rocky friendship with Logan. It is a fun read but I would only get this collection if you can get it for free or $0.99. It isn't that deep of a short story. Just a little tidbit of Gwen to add to the collection.
Again, I have to say that I love this series. First off, Gwen is a girl after my own heart. She's a little bit of a geek, kind of average looking, and considers herself nothing special but this first book is her discovery that she might be more than she realizes. I love the little love drama that begins as well. Now, this book has foul language. Not really bad words but enough curse words that are frequent that I need to mention it. I will also mention that there are some sexual suggestions, no sex or graphic detail but she does talk about/imply that teenage sex is a part of the boarding school experience (I wouldn't know). BUT the first book is the worst of the series in regards to this. There is very little bad language or sexual suggestion in the following books. Also, I started to read one of Jennifer Estep's adult books (this is considered Young Adult) and the best I can say is DON'T READ IT if you don't want to read explicit sex scenes and foul, foul language. The young adult series is cleaner and in my opinion, better.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I love how Estep covers all kinds of mythology. I actually tried to find other reference books that talk about various mythology so I could better understand references she makes. It is easy to find out stuff about Greek, Roman and even Norse mythology but Celtic, Russian, and Asian lore are harder to find. I love the gods and goddesses that she brings to the story as well as the various warriors, artifacts and weapons. This series helps add fuel to my desire to learn to fight with a bow (or long staff). I really think I could do it (not that my husband is in any hurry to let me try)!
I would gladly recommend this to my friends. If you are sensitive to foul language, I would say "try to soldier through it b/c it does get cleaner as the series goes on". Really, I've read this series at least 5 times. I enjoy it! And she is still adding to the series!
Entangled, a Paranormal Anthology (misc. authors)
This is a collection of short stories and the first story is Halloween Frost. This takes Gwen through the Halloween holiday. It touches a little bit on her rocky friendship with Logan. It is a fun read but I would only get this collection if you can get it for free or $0.99. It isn't that deep of a short story. Just a little tidbit of Gwen to add to the collection.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Talented Saga by Sophie Davis
Okay, for the series as a whole: so far Sophie Davis has written 4 books in this series. There is an additional "novella" that includes a series of short stories. She has this collection, "Captivated, A Talented Novella", listed as book #3.5. I would rather say that this is 4 "flashbacks" that appear throughout the series. One flashback actually predates all the books with the story of how two characters met. My advice would be to get this collection and after reading each book, read the story/flashback that comes around the time of the book. When I go back to reread this series, that is what I will do. Okay, let's start the series:
Talented (book 1):
Talia is "talented", in other words gifted with telepathy and mind manipulation. She is in the early stages of being trained as a government "hunter" or spy. She is learning to use her skills to help the government fight a civil war. This book is somewhat of a futuristic United States. It basically says that somewhere in the future, all the various countries' nuclear reactors collapse and cause a contamination of the Earth's water supply. The result of this contamination is children born with "talents" or special abilities such as mind manipulation, morphing into animals, or "brains" whose minds think like computers and can absorb information at alarming rates. Throughout the time passing from the contamination and Talia's time, the government has begun testing all children at a certain age and then if they show talents, they are sent to a government school to be trained and later become agents for the government, not all end up as spies. Talia's story obviously has a lot more to it. She witnesses her parents' murder when she is ten and is taken in and raised by the Director of the talented school. She is even dating the Director's son and seems to be madly in love with him....until she starts flirting with one of her teammates.
Now, I tend to be finnicky when it comes to love triangles. Usually, I find one guy that I like and then root for him throughout the book. If the author picks the other guy for the lead girl, then I usually end up never reading the book again. I will say that when reading the first book, I'm not sure I would pick either one! However, I start to see where the author is going with it. I found this book fun to read even though I tend to not like "dooms-day" or "apocolaptic" books. This book is neither. It almost reminds me of Hunger Games. I would say it is less violence than Hunger Games but there IS violence in it. I like the heroine (she's 5 ft tall and is a scrapper--I can relate). I like the tug and pull of the storyline and the guys. I enjoyed reading and looked forward to book 2. I WILL NOW DISCUSS BOOK 2. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU'VE READ BOOK 1! SPOILER ALERTS!
Caged (Book 2):
Now in this book, Talia is starting to rethink what she's been taught by Mac and TOXIC. She's not 100% into believing that the government is bad but she's questioning some things. She's also realized that Donovan is a creep but she's forced into interacting with him. Unfortunately, we don't see much of Eric early on in this book. I kept reading this book b/c I wanted to see where the author went with it. I knew that she had some sort of complexity invested in this storyline and I was curious to find out the secrets as much as Talia is. I enjoyed this book almost as book 1. I like what she did so far in it. I like when Talia gets her head on straight and starts to see things clearly however, I think Talia is a bit too trusting and I get a little annoyed with her inability to tell people to take a hike. I WILL NOW DISCUSS BOOK 3. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU'VE READ BOOK 2! SPOILER ALERTS!
Hunted (Book 3):
Finally, Talia is starting to see where she has been too trusting. She is really hurt and she is starting to see where things don't all add up. I get a little frustrated in this book. I find Talia to be a bit "mopey" and I get annoyed with her "woe is me, I can't trust anyone, I don't know what to believe". However, I enjoy that she realizes in this book what and who she wants. There is no more Donovan or Eric in this book. She makes a choice and sticks with it. I found this book to be the most tiresome of the series and would say to you "keep reading". It gets better and at this point, you are invested in the series, don't you want to see where it goes? I WILL NOW DISCUSS BOOK 4. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU'VE READ BOOK 3! SPOILER ALERTS!
Created (Book 4):
Supposedly, this is the last in the series though I will not be surprised if she adds to the saga. I like how she "sort of" ended it. I do. I'm glad I hung in for the less enjoyable parts. I think she gives completion to a lot that we have been hanging on through the beginning of the series. I love how she concludes the love story. I love Talia's choice. I love that they end up together even if they are somewhat less "happily ever after" and more "it won't always be easy or happy but we'll be together either way". Again, I'm reminded somewhat of Hunger Games and that whole "war damages us all and we have to find a way to live through some regrets in life". I love how Talia takes ownership of herself, her story, and her talents. I love her tenacity. I get a little sick of the "don't let Eric see me like this" routine but I'm hoping that if Sophie Davis does continue the series, that she will give Talia some more depth as she gets older. I have to remind myself that Talia is 17/18 in this book. She's a little naive; she believes a little too much in the good of everyone around her. Even after she's been burned repeatedly she goes in and tries to be loyal. She doesn't give up and I admire that.
Overall, this series was pretty good. It was a little different from what I usually read so I found that refreshing. There is some language, some sexual content. I wouldn't let my young teenager read it. But if you want something that is a little sci-fi and a little gritty, this is a good saga to read. Give it a shot and let me know if you agree or disagree!
Talented (book 1):
Talia is "talented", in other words gifted with telepathy and mind manipulation. She is in the early stages of being trained as a government "hunter" or spy. She is learning to use her skills to help the government fight a civil war. This book is somewhat of a futuristic United States. It basically says that somewhere in the future, all the various countries' nuclear reactors collapse and cause a contamination of the Earth's water supply. The result of this contamination is children born with "talents" or special abilities such as mind manipulation, morphing into animals, or "brains" whose minds think like computers and can absorb information at alarming rates. Throughout the time passing from the contamination and Talia's time, the government has begun testing all children at a certain age and then if they show talents, they are sent to a government school to be trained and later become agents for the government, not all end up as spies. Talia's story obviously has a lot more to it. She witnesses her parents' murder when she is ten and is taken in and raised by the Director of the talented school. She is even dating the Director's son and seems to be madly in love with him....until she starts flirting with one of her teammates.
Now, I tend to be finnicky when it comes to love triangles. Usually, I find one guy that I like and then root for him throughout the book. If the author picks the other guy for the lead girl, then I usually end up never reading the book again. I will say that when reading the first book, I'm not sure I would pick either one! However, I start to see where the author is going with it. I found this book fun to read even though I tend to not like "dooms-day" or "apocolaptic" books. This book is neither. It almost reminds me of Hunger Games. I would say it is less violence than Hunger Games but there IS violence in it. I like the heroine (she's 5 ft tall and is a scrapper--I can relate). I like the tug and pull of the storyline and the guys. I enjoyed reading and looked forward to book 2. I WILL NOW DISCUSS BOOK 2. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU'VE READ BOOK 1! SPOILER ALERTS!
Caged (Book 2):
Now in this book, Talia is starting to rethink what she's been taught by Mac and TOXIC. She's not 100% into believing that the government is bad but she's questioning some things. She's also realized that Donovan is a creep but she's forced into interacting with him. Unfortunately, we don't see much of Eric early on in this book. I kept reading this book b/c I wanted to see where the author went with it. I knew that she had some sort of complexity invested in this storyline and I was curious to find out the secrets as much as Talia is. I enjoyed this book almost as book 1. I like what she did so far in it. I like when Talia gets her head on straight and starts to see things clearly however, I think Talia is a bit too trusting and I get a little annoyed with her inability to tell people to take a hike. I WILL NOW DISCUSS BOOK 3. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU'VE READ BOOK 2! SPOILER ALERTS!
Hunted (Book 3):
Finally, Talia is starting to see where she has been too trusting. She is really hurt and she is starting to see where things don't all add up. I get a little frustrated in this book. I find Talia to be a bit "mopey" and I get annoyed with her "woe is me, I can't trust anyone, I don't know what to believe". However, I enjoy that she realizes in this book what and who she wants. There is no more Donovan or Eric in this book. She makes a choice and sticks with it. I found this book to be the most tiresome of the series and would say to you "keep reading". It gets better and at this point, you are invested in the series, don't you want to see where it goes? I WILL NOW DISCUSS BOOK 4. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU'VE READ BOOK 3! SPOILER ALERTS!
Created (Book 4):
Supposedly, this is the last in the series though I will not be surprised if she adds to the saga. I like how she "sort of" ended it. I do. I'm glad I hung in for the less enjoyable parts. I think she gives completion to a lot that we have been hanging on through the beginning of the series. I love how she concludes the love story. I love Talia's choice. I love that they end up together even if they are somewhat less "happily ever after" and more "it won't always be easy or happy but we'll be together either way". Again, I'm reminded somewhat of Hunger Games and that whole "war damages us all and we have to find a way to live through some regrets in life". I love how Talia takes ownership of herself, her story, and her talents. I love her tenacity. I get a little sick of the "don't let Eric see me like this" routine but I'm hoping that if Sophie Davis does continue the series, that she will give Talia some more depth as she gets older. I have to remind myself that Talia is 17/18 in this book. She's a little naive; she believes a little too much in the good of everyone around her. Even after she's been burned repeatedly she goes in and tries to be loyal. She doesn't give up and I admire that.
Overall, this series was pretty good. It was a little different from what I usually read so I found that refreshing. There is some language, some sexual content. I wouldn't let my young teenager read it. But if you want something that is a little sci-fi and a little gritty, this is a good saga to read. Give it a shot and let me know if you agree or disagree!
getting started
I've been playing around with the idea for awhile now. I read so much and sometimes people ask me what I think about a book. I'm not the smartest when it comes to computers. So add all that together and you have "from Greta's Bookshelf". Here I will talk about books that I read. I will go through my bookshelf and my kindle and talk about the books I read. Whether I like them or not, what kind of content they have (language/sexual situations/etc) and kind of what they are about. I will probably do some series books at the same time so DO NOT read further reviews of a series if you are still on book #1, it may contain spoiler alerts.
Also, this is my OPINION! You may not agree. You may not like my opinion. Let's agree right now to love each other no matter what and use this solely as a place to get ideas on what books to read or not read.
Ready? Woohoo, let's go...............................
Also, this is my OPINION! You may not agree. You may not like my opinion. Let's agree right now to love each other no matter what and use this solely as a place to get ideas on what books to read or not read.
Ready? Woohoo, let's go...............................
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