Here I am again, reviewing a Kelley Armstrong book. I've already reviewed the first book, Sea of Shadows, so I recommend you read that review if you haven't read the first one.
I was anxiously awaiting this sequel and finished the book quickly b/c it was one of those "ignore the house and feed the kids pizza so you can read" books. I will again say only read her YA books if you don't want to read sex or language. Her adult books are ADULT!
I usually hate when an author introduces a new love interest in a second book, after I've already become invested in the first love interest. Congratulations to Kelley Armstrong for making me break my routine. I LOVE the new love interest for Moira. I love, love, love him and hope that she does not go back to Gavril in the 3rd book. Also, I thought that Ashyn's story would flower and grow and the author manages to twist the story enough that I can't predict what will happen. I really when authors can still find a way to surprise b/c honestly, I find that the more books I read, the more I can predict the storyline. She manages to surprise and keep me happy as a reader.
I'm so anxious for book 3 to come out!!!!
I will reshare this warning though:
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:
In this heart-stopping sequel to the New York Times bestselling Sea of Shadows, which Kirkus Reviews
called "a standout," Ashyn and Moria must overcome deadly enemies—not
all of them human—as they attempt to help avert a war for the empire.
Blending fantasy, romance, danger, and action, Kelley Armstrong sends
readers on a thrilling journey through an unforgettable world, perfect
for fans of Graceling and Game of Thrones.
Sisters
Moria and Ashyn are the Keeper and Seeker of Edgewood. Or at least they
were. Their village is gone. Their friends have betrayed them. And now,
the emperor has sent them on a mission to rescue the captured children
of Edgewood—accompanied by Prince Tyrus and a small band of imperial
warriors. But the journey proves more perilous than any of them could
have imagined. And with treachery and unrest mounting in the empire, the
girls are running out of places to turn.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Cast in Stone by A.F. Dery
This book is super fast paced and kinda throws you in the middle of the story without too much explanation. Strangely, it works for me. I love the pace. I love the characters particularly Rupert and I love the way the heroine, Celia, grows. She starts off bitter and closed off and you have no idea why but I love watching the story unfold the past. There is no bad language (that I can think of) and there is no sex. It has a romantic quality to the story which is unusual for me but I love the way the reader knows they are in love before they know it. The action is good but it is almost too fast paced toward the end. The author could've used 2 more chapters to explain the final battle but ah well.....
Here's waiting till the sequel is out.
Amazon description:
After her parents are murdered by a brutal warlord, Celia makes it her ultimate mission to bring him to justice, but she can't do it alone.
Rupert is a criminal mage whose sentenced execution is commuted if he agrees to serve as Celia's Guardian until her mission is complete.
But what looks like the perfect opportunity for them both quickly turns into the perfect catastrophe. In the fall out, she is betrayed by those she trusted most. Now on the run, Celia and Rupert find not only their lives in jeopardy, but also their hearts.
Torn between her old vow and a new love, Celia must choose justice...or vengeance.
Here's waiting till the sequel is out.
Amazon description:
After her parents are murdered by a brutal warlord, Celia makes it her ultimate mission to bring him to justice, but she can't do it alone.
Rupert is a criminal mage whose sentenced execution is commuted if he agrees to serve as Celia's Guardian until her mission is complete.
But what looks like the perfect opportunity for them both quickly turns into the perfect catastrophe. In the fall out, she is betrayed by those she trusted most. Now on the run, Celia and Rupert find not only their lives in jeopardy, but also their hearts.
Torn between her old vow and a new love, Celia must choose justice...or vengeance.
The Fire Seer by Amy Raby
When I looked at this book online, it had a few bad reviews but sometimes the reviews are subjective (like mine are) so I took a chance. I'll say that the argument that most people had was not what made me dislike this book. I actually liked this book for the most part but the parts where a really foul curse word showed up made me cringe....not the mild foul words but the big nasty 4 letter ones and it was then I decided I wouldn't read this book again and I wouldn't read the sequels. In addition, at the very near-end of the book, there is a pretty gratuitous love scene so there were my strikes. My big no-nos for reading a book. So I will say if you are a teenager or a lady (or man) that likes to sensor what you read, this book is not for you. I'll leave you with the description and I will say that I didn't have any issues with the love story of this book. If you read the reviews and wonder about it all, just know that I didn't think it was all that bad.
Amazon description:
Taya has risen from humble roots to become a fire seer in the Coalition of Mages. Eager to prove herself, she arrives in the town of Hrappa to locate a “jackal”—a mage operating outside the Coalition’s authority—who has murdered three people.
But in Hrappa, she discovers that the man assigned to be her bodyguard is Mandir, her nemesis from years ago. When she and Mandir were students, he bullied her so severely he was sentenced to a year of penance and moved to another temple.
When Mandir sees that he’s been partnered with Taya, all his old torment comes rushing back. He’s had a crush on Taya since the day they began their training, but he pushed her away, ashamed of his attraction to someone so far beneath his social class. He regrets that now and intends to make an honest attempt to win her heart—if she can forgive him for his past sins.
But first they must find the murderous jackal, before the jackal finds them.
Amazon description:
Taya has risen from humble roots to become a fire seer in the Coalition of Mages. Eager to prove herself, she arrives in the town of Hrappa to locate a “jackal”—a mage operating outside the Coalition’s authority—who has murdered three people.
But in Hrappa, she discovers that the man assigned to be her bodyguard is Mandir, her nemesis from years ago. When she and Mandir were students, he bullied her so severely he was sentenced to a year of penance and moved to another temple.
When Mandir sees that he’s been partnered with Taya, all his old torment comes rushing back. He’s had a crush on Taya since the day they began their training, but he pushed her away, ashamed of his attraction to someone so far beneath his social class. He regrets that now and intends to make an honest attempt to win her heart—if she can forgive him for his past sins.
But first they must find the murderous jackal, before the jackal finds them.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Bound Triology Book 1 and 2 by Kate Sparks
The saddest thing I have to say in this review is that book #3 is not out yet! I have been anxiously waiting this sequel and got it last week. It didn't take me long to go through that puppy.
Rowan is a girl who thinks she wants adventure. She has a nice life and a nice future but like so many of us, she dreams of "more" and "excitement". Ironically, once she gets it, she realizes it is more work than she thought.
A few things I love about this series:
1. the love story. I love that there is no love triangle though it does take them both awhile to realize that they do indeed love one another.
2. I love Aren. I seem to have a thing for bad boy/assassin types in books. Maybe b/c my husband is nothing like that. Aren is a dude who is clearly NOT misunderstood. He has done bad things. I kinda don't like a period in the second book where he is a little whiney about "I want to be a good guy but it's easier to be bad and maybe it's too late for me to be good. What do I do? blah blah blah" However, toward the end of the second book he has a realization where he says "I will never be the white knight. But maybe this fairy tale has the girl falling for the black prince instead." If ever I were gonna fall for the black prince, it would be this book. I love him.
3. I love the side characters, Kel and Cassia. I love the mer-people! Yeah, you heard me, mer-people. Not normally what I go for in a story but these two are awesome. And they show up in both books! Score two for one!
4. I love that Rowan grows up. She is a little naive in places but girl gets her feisty on when she needs to and I love that. Plus she's smart. I mean, she is an intellectual, not some vapid pretty girl or uber-warrior. She is just smart and thinks things out when the pressure is on. It ends up being one of her more endearing qualities.
I will say that there are moments where I found the story to be a bit wordy. I also think she adds a lot of detail, almost to the point where it deters from the story. But overall, I really enjoy the books. Young adults (teens) beware: there is some foul language in this book and there is a bit of "promiscuity". There aren't gratuitous sex scenes but she does elude to sexual situations. Nothing too bad that takes away from the story so that's a positive. It makes sense to the love story but isn't so steamy that you feel naughty for reading it.
I recommend this book. Read it, like it, anxiously await book 3. You know I am :)
Amazon description of:
Bound:
Welcome to Darmid, where magic is a sin, fairy tales are contraband, and the people live in fear of the Sorcerers on the other side of the mountains.
Rowan Greenwood has everything she's supposed to want from life—a good family, a bright future, and a proposal from a handsome and wealthy magic hunter. She knows she should be content with what she has. If only she could banish the idea that there's more to life than marriage and children, or let go of the fascination with magic she's been forced to suppress since childhood.
When Rowan unknowingly saves the life of one of her people’s most feared enemies, that simple act of compassion rips her from her sheltered life and throws her into a world of magic that’s more beautiful, more seductive, and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
Rowan might get everything she ever dreamed of—that is, if the one thing she's always wanted doesn't kill her first.
Torn:
Aren Tiernal knows that safety is an illusion, that his cruel and powerful brother will never forgive his betrayal. Still, returning to Tyrea to challenge Severn for the throne would be suicide. It’s not until Severn himself comes to collect what’s owed to him that Aren decides to risk everything in an attempt to bring down the most powerful Sorcerer Tyrea has ever known. The mission seems doomed to fail, but it’s Aren’s only chance to save himself, his country, and the woman who thawed his heart.
Rowan Greenwood has troubles of her own. Though she should be a great Sorceress, years of being closed off from her magic have left her unable to control her incredible power. When a pair of ominous letters arrive from her home country, Rowan has to choose between her new life and a chance at saving her family—and just maybe changing an entire country’s beliefs about the evils of magic.
Torn apart by separate quests, Rowan and Aren will have to discover untapped strengths and confront their darkest fears in order to overthrow a ruler determined to destroy them both.
Rowan is a girl who thinks she wants adventure. She has a nice life and a nice future but like so many of us, she dreams of "more" and "excitement". Ironically, once she gets it, she realizes it is more work than she thought.
A few things I love about this series:
1. the love story. I love that there is no love triangle though it does take them both awhile to realize that they do indeed love one another.
2. I love Aren. I seem to have a thing for bad boy/assassin types in books. Maybe b/c my husband is nothing like that. Aren is a dude who is clearly NOT misunderstood. He has done bad things. I kinda don't like a period in the second book where he is a little whiney about "I want to be a good guy but it's easier to be bad and maybe it's too late for me to be good. What do I do? blah blah blah" However, toward the end of the second book he has a realization where he says "I will never be the white knight. But maybe this fairy tale has the girl falling for the black prince instead." If ever I were gonna fall for the black prince, it would be this book. I love him.
3. I love the side characters, Kel and Cassia. I love the mer-people! Yeah, you heard me, mer-people. Not normally what I go for in a story but these two are awesome. And they show up in both books! Score two for one!
4. I love that Rowan grows up. She is a little naive in places but girl gets her feisty on when she needs to and I love that. Plus she's smart. I mean, she is an intellectual, not some vapid pretty girl or uber-warrior. She is just smart and thinks things out when the pressure is on. It ends up being one of her more endearing qualities.
I will say that there are moments where I found the story to be a bit wordy. I also think she adds a lot of detail, almost to the point where it deters from the story. But overall, I really enjoy the books. Young adults (teens) beware: there is some foul language in this book and there is a bit of "promiscuity". There aren't gratuitous sex scenes but she does elude to sexual situations. Nothing too bad that takes away from the story so that's a positive. It makes sense to the love story but isn't so steamy that you feel naughty for reading it.
I recommend this book. Read it, like it, anxiously await book 3. You know I am :)
Amazon description of:
Bound:
Welcome to Darmid, where magic is a sin, fairy tales are contraband, and the people live in fear of the Sorcerers on the other side of the mountains.
Rowan Greenwood has everything she's supposed to want from life—a good family, a bright future, and a proposal from a handsome and wealthy magic hunter. She knows she should be content with what she has. If only she could banish the idea that there's more to life than marriage and children, or let go of the fascination with magic she's been forced to suppress since childhood.
When Rowan unknowingly saves the life of one of her people’s most feared enemies, that simple act of compassion rips her from her sheltered life and throws her into a world of magic that’s more beautiful, more seductive, and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
Rowan might get everything she ever dreamed of—that is, if the one thing she's always wanted doesn't kill her first.
Torn:
Aren Tiernal knows that safety is an illusion, that his cruel and powerful brother will never forgive his betrayal. Still, returning to Tyrea to challenge Severn for the throne would be suicide. It’s not until Severn himself comes to collect what’s owed to him that Aren decides to risk everything in an attempt to bring down the most powerful Sorcerer Tyrea has ever known. The mission seems doomed to fail, but it’s Aren’s only chance to save himself, his country, and the woman who thawed his heart.
Rowan Greenwood has troubles of her own. Though she should be a great Sorceress, years of being closed off from her magic have left her unable to control her incredible power. When a pair of ominous letters arrive from her home country, Rowan has to choose between her new life and a chance at saving her family—and just maybe changing an entire country’s beliefs about the evils of magic.
Torn apart by separate quests, Rowan and Aren will have to discover untapped strengths and confront their darkest fears in order to overthrow a ruler determined to destroy them both.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Courtlight Series by Terah Edun
I'm going to write a first: a review on a series of books that I haven't finished. And that probably says something in and of itself.
I read Books 1, 2, and 3 of this series and I started book 4 but the author did what I hate! She drags the story out and out and out and out and just adds more and more characters without really offering any resolutions for the conflicts. It gets cumbersome and makes it hard to keep anything straight. She spends the first three books trying to create a love story in a series only to introduce a whole nother love interest in book 4 and I got so bogged down that I did the unthinkable: I read the last chapter of book 6! And guess what: she hasn't resolved it by then either! Apparently there are more books in the series and I have no idea who she will end up with! It's crazy so I stopped.....I just stopped reading! I don't know if I'll ever finish it! In fact, I invite you all to read it and tell me how it ends. Then maybe I'll go back and finish it.
Amazon description:
Sworn To Raise
Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire's seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder--intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.
Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companions Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she'd never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.
But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.
Sworn To Transfer
Eighteen-year-old companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. The Ameles Forest lies unprotected and it's inhabitants are dying.
As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.
With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city's nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she's given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.
To keep the Companions' Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she's faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.
Sworn To Conflict
Ciardis Weathervane fought for the living dead and won. But worse than taking on a mass murderer, was her discovery that she had been deceived by her friends. Now she needs to not only fight a war in the North and survive, but also decide where she stands in the midst of competing sides.
A threat to all she holds dear lies in the North and her heart is not the only thing she might lose. A massive army awaits in the mountain pass, surging closer to the gates of the southern lands. Nothing the Algardis army has done so far has dissuaded their march forward and Ciardis finds out that her powers to enhance are needed now more than ever.
As she faces her greatest fears on the battlefields and her heart is torn between her love of Sebastian and loyalty to her family, Ciardis must choose her fate carefully. For in her path, lies the destiny of the empire.
I read Books 1, 2, and 3 of this series and I started book 4 but the author did what I hate! She drags the story out and out and out and out and just adds more and more characters without really offering any resolutions for the conflicts. It gets cumbersome and makes it hard to keep anything straight. She spends the first three books trying to create a love story in a series only to introduce a whole nother love interest in book 4 and I got so bogged down that I did the unthinkable: I read the last chapter of book 6! And guess what: she hasn't resolved it by then either! Apparently there are more books in the series and I have no idea who she will end up with! It's crazy so I stopped.....I just stopped reading! I don't know if I'll ever finish it! In fact, I invite you all to read it and tell me how it ends. Then maybe I'll go back and finish it.
Amazon description:
Sworn To Raise
Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire's seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder--intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.
Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companions Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she'd never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.
But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.
Sworn To Transfer
Eighteen-year-old companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. The Ameles Forest lies unprotected and it's inhabitants are dying.
As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.
With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city's nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she's given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.
To keep the Companions' Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she's faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.
Sworn To Conflict
Ciardis Weathervane fought for the living dead and won. But worse than taking on a mass murderer, was her discovery that she had been deceived by her friends. Now she needs to not only fight a war in the North and survive, but also decide where she stands in the midst of competing sides.
A threat to all she holds dear lies in the North and her heart is not the only thing she might lose. A massive army awaits in the mountain pass, surging closer to the gates of the southern lands. Nothing the Algardis army has done so far has dissuaded their march forward and Ciardis finds out that her powers to enhance are needed now more than ever.
As she faces her greatest fears on the battlefields and her heart is torn between her love of Sebastian and loyalty to her family, Ciardis must choose her fate carefully. For in her path, lies the destiny of the empire.
The Otherworld Trilogy by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
I started the first book of this series b/c it came in an anthology of faery stories. I thought it might be interested and I was not disappointed. This book has some things I love in a book to read when you need an escape: fairies, magic, and Celtic mythology. I'm fascinated by mythology but obviously I'm far more familiar with Greek mythology than any other kind. However, I'm finding that I enjoy reading other stories as well: Roman, Norse, Celtic, etc. This book has all those things.
There is a little bit of foul language in it and I think it implies sex more than describes anything to make you uncomfortable.
I find Meghan likable enough. She does get to be a bit whiney at times but I'm pleased that the author does not leave unexplained moments. For instance, any time you have a teen disappear into another world, often the author leaves it unexplained why her parents didn't notice her missing. This author does not do that. She covers her bases; she back-stories everything.
Her real character that I adore is Cade. He's typical hero/love interest in that he's a tortured soul who fears she won't love him if she knows his past but we all know how those stories usually go. I also love that the author lets Cade get hurt. He's not indestructable and she doesn't try to make him seem that way. I love that. I love that he can be insecure, fearful and he can be hurt. He is the one who shows restraint in the story. He has potential to be one of my fictional faves.
I recommend this book if you like mythology and magic. It's a good escape and the trilogy is complete so BONUS!
Amazon description:
This Omnibus Edition includes the entire Otherworld Trilogy, as well as a commentary from the author, an interview with the main characters, a map of Eile, and a short story from the author's other series, The Legend of Oescienne.
Books in the Otherworld Trilogy:
Faelorehn - Book One
Dolmarehn - Book Two
Luathara - Book Three
Meghan Elam's life may not have been perfect, but at least it was somewhere just outside the realm of normal. Of course, it only gets worse when Cade MacRoich shows up and saves her from a pack of bloodthirsty monsters. And Cade doesn't stop after playing the part of the redeeming hero. He informs Meghan that she is not human, but Faelorehn and immortal. With the help of her mysterious rescuer, Meghan gradually learns who she truly is and that danger waits for her around every corner, danger that only grows when she ventures into the Otherworld. Between a vindictive goddess nipping at her heels and a mother who has been keeping secrets from her, Meghan must learn her new place in a magical and terrifying world, a world she is now very much a part of.
There is a little bit of foul language in it and I think it implies sex more than describes anything to make you uncomfortable.
I find Meghan likable enough. She does get to be a bit whiney at times but I'm pleased that the author does not leave unexplained moments. For instance, any time you have a teen disappear into another world, often the author leaves it unexplained why her parents didn't notice her missing. This author does not do that. She covers her bases; she back-stories everything.
Her real character that I adore is Cade. He's typical hero/love interest in that he's a tortured soul who fears she won't love him if she knows his past but we all know how those stories usually go. I also love that the author lets Cade get hurt. He's not indestructable and she doesn't try to make him seem that way. I love that. I love that he can be insecure, fearful and he can be hurt. He is the one who shows restraint in the story. He has potential to be one of my fictional faves.
I recommend this book if you like mythology and magic. It's a good escape and the trilogy is complete so BONUS!
Amazon description:
This Omnibus Edition includes the entire Otherworld Trilogy, as well as a commentary from the author, an interview with the main characters, a map of Eile, and a short story from the author's other series, The Legend of Oescienne.
Books in the Otherworld Trilogy:
Faelorehn - Book One
Dolmarehn - Book Two
Luathara - Book Three
Meghan Elam's life may not have been perfect, but at least it was somewhere just outside the realm of normal. Of course, it only gets worse when Cade MacRoich shows up and saves her from a pack of bloodthirsty monsters. And Cade doesn't stop after playing the part of the redeeming hero. He informs Meghan that she is not human, but Faelorehn and immortal. With the help of her mysterious rescuer, Meghan gradually learns who she truly is and that danger waits for her around every corner, danger that only grows when she ventures into the Otherworld. Between a vindictive goddess nipping at her heels and a mother who has been keeping secrets from her, Meghan must learn her new place in a magical and terrifying world, a world she is now very much a part of.
The Golden Apple by Michelle Diener
I had a hard time deciding to review this book b/c it was short and fairly unmemorable. I think I finished this book in under 12 hours which is one reason it was pretty easy to forget. I didn't read it so quickly b/c I was that into it. I read it that quick b/c it was short and not much to it. There is a little mention of sex in it but nothing gratuitous. This book has what I like in a plot: an idea of romance, magic, and an unexpected heroine. But it was short and not very complex in the plot. I won't say it was bad and I may read the sequel.....if I can get it for free which is how I got the first book.
Amazon description:
Kayla’s world has been turned upside-down . . .
Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.
Rane’s honor is torn in two…
In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to–including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.
Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together . . .
Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla’s actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.
The Golden Apple is followed by its sequel, The Silver Pear.
Amazon description:
Kayla’s world has been turned upside-down . . .
Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.
Rane’s honor is torn in two…
In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to–including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.
Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together . . .
Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla’s actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.
The Golden Apple is followed by its sequel, The Silver Pear.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
a Dark Faerie Series (Books 1, 2, 3) by Alexia Purdy
Okay, so I've stated before that I do not like to give bad book reviews. In fact, I tried everything under the sun to like these books. I read through book 1, 2 and 3 and could not make myself read book 4. So brace yourselves, I'm about to get real.
Imagine watching a movie but instead of watching it flow seamlessly, watch it still frame by still frame. One picture at a time. That is what reading these books are like. Each chapter is choppy with no transition from one scene to the next. She throws characters into the mix only to have them be dropped in the next chapter and never heard from again. There is no backstory, no explanations, no thorough description of anything. Shade, the main character, takes everything at face value and just follows random people/elves to various conflicts simply b/c she is told to do it. She has maybe a page or two with one character and then several chapters later (after these characters have been dropped as previously mentioned), Shade laments that her dearest friends are in danger and such. Seriously, one paragraph and I'm supposed to understand the connection between two characters?!?
And here's the really disappointing thing, Purdy has the potential to make this a great book series. The premise of the story is great! The love story is kinda cool and I only read through 3 books b/c I wanted to see where she took Shade and Dylan. But I can't stand the disjointed nature of the book. It reminded of a 15 year old's first attempt at a book report. It has some great points and potential to really be enjoyable but it's so choppy that it feels juvenile and unprofessional. I was really distraught over how much I disliked reading this. I wanted to like it so much. I wanted to see how she completes the story in book 4 but I don't know if I can sit through anymore.
Let me just add one more thought: I love that there are authors out there who are self-publishing. Not only are the books fairly inexpensive but they also get published much quicker. However, sometimes the publishing process is so worth it. There tend to be WAY more mistakes and inconsistencies in self-published books. Another series, Paranormal Public, was one I started. I went through EIGHT books in the series and got to the point where the inconsistencies became too much and I refuse to read anymore. Please authors, consider going through the publishing process. The mistakes, the discrepancies, the disjointed nature can take a good book and send it spiraling into disaster. As is the case in Ever Shade, Ever Fire, and Ever Winter.
Imagine watching a movie but instead of watching it flow seamlessly, watch it still frame by still frame. One picture at a time. That is what reading these books are like. Each chapter is choppy with no transition from one scene to the next. She throws characters into the mix only to have them be dropped in the next chapter and never heard from again. There is no backstory, no explanations, no thorough description of anything. Shade, the main character, takes everything at face value and just follows random people/elves to various conflicts simply b/c she is told to do it. She has maybe a page or two with one character and then several chapters later (after these characters have been dropped as previously mentioned), Shade laments that her dearest friends are in danger and such. Seriously, one paragraph and I'm supposed to understand the connection between two characters?!?
And here's the really disappointing thing, Purdy has the potential to make this a great book series. The premise of the story is great! The love story is kinda cool and I only read through 3 books b/c I wanted to see where she took Shade and Dylan. But I can't stand the disjointed nature of the book. It reminded of a 15 year old's first attempt at a book report. It has some great points and potential to really be enjoyable but it's so choppy that it feels juvenile and unprofessional. I was really distraught over how much I disliked reading this. I wanted to like it so much. I wanted to see how she completes the story in book 4 but I don't know if I can sit through anymore.
Let me just add one more thought: I love that there are authors out there who are self-publishing. Not only are the books fairly inexpensive but they also get published much quicker. However, sometimes the publishing process is so worth it. There tend to be WAY more mistakes and inconsistencies in self-published books. Another series, Paranormal Public, was one I started. I went through EIGHT books in the series and got to the point where the inconsistencies became too much and I refuse to read anymore. Please authors, consider going through the publishing process. The mistakes, the discrepancies, the disjointed nature can take a good book and send it spiraling into disaster. As is the case in Ever Shade, Ever Fire, and Ever Winter.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
the Velesi Trilogy by L. Filloon
So this review will encompass all 3 books: The Binding, The Drifting, and The Whispering.
First off: there is no sex in this book. Some suggestive statements but nothing descriptive like that. There is some foul language, particularly in Book 3 but I would recommend this to an older teen. It is definitely YA.
This series is great if you love books about the fae, faeries, elves, that sort of thing. The story jumps up and starts running right out of the gate. Lily is thrown into this world and within the first chapter she is finding out she is betrothed to an elf prince and is wanted dead or alive. She is literally thrown into this storyline....there is no build-up. However, this author does it in such a way that you don't feel like you're missing a lot of details. Things are explained as you go along and you find the action of the book forward moving.
What sells me on this book is her cast of characters. Often in books, the main couple/love interests make the book interesting but not this book. Every. single. character is funny and lovable and I want her to write a series about each and every one of them. As much as I get invested in the relationship of Lily and Tharin, I find myself rooting for Julia and Tolan as well. I love Tolan. He is kinda the sidekick but he is so LOVABLE! And the fellas that round up the ensemble: Alorn, Phoris, Ziri, and Mellis. I think I find myself more in love with Mellis than Tharin, which is saying a lot.
Now my one critique: I get a little tired of the back and forth with Lily and Tharin. "Does he love me? Does he love her? I have to give him up for the greater good....." "She hasn't said she loves me. She seems uncertain. I'm jealous of any man that looks at her b/c she may want him instead of me." Blah blah blah! Move on you two! Someone lay the cards out on the table and be done with it. That aspect was a little juvenile for me. But what I recommend these books? Absolutely! I really do love when the story is finished and she manages, not only to complete the journey she started but she leaves a teaser dangling and maybe, just maybe, one day my adorable little "sidekicks" will have their own novel and their own story to tell. I'm really looking forward to that: Truly!
I'll include the amazon descriptions:
The Binding:
Two nights after her eighteenth birthday, Lily is attacked while out jogging but is saved by Tharin Lunar, a Sidhe prince. When she discovers her attacker is her own brother, Lucas, who disappeared four years ago, Lily refuses to believe he would truly hurt her and becomes determined to find Lucas and bring him home. She finds Lucas's disappearance is somehow tied to Tharin; so when he informs her that she is his betrothed and must return with him to Velesi, fulfill a treaty between their families and unite the two strongest clans through their marriage, Lily agrees. However, she is not going to Velesi for a wedding, but to bring home her only family, Lucas. On their journey to the borders of Velesi, the realm of the Thirteen Clans, they are pursued by a Sidhe assassin group call the Ange, meet with an ogre crime lord that ends badly, deal with a sleazy troll motel manager, and when they discover there is a bounty on their heads, they must keep one step ahead of every assassin, bounty hunter and low-life criminal from Velesi. Protecting Lily has become the biggest challenge of Tharin's life. Lucky for him he has help in the form of his twin brother, Tolan, Lily's best friend Julia and his three bodyguard cousins – Alorn, Phoris and Mellis.
The Drifting:
It is Lily’s first day in the Velesi realm but not as the princess she was made to believe, but as a captive to a strange Lithi elf name Ziri – Tharin and Tolan’s mysterious brother. Who is he and why has he taken her? Or is he only a pawn in someone’s deadly game of chess? Tharin and Lily discover a prophecy involving the Unnamed Sidhe and a way back to Eirrell, the birthplace of the Thirteen Clans. However, before they can get to the doorway to Eirrell, Lily must first make it to the Day of the Seating to take her rightful place on the throne of the Willow Clan. Tharin must keep Lily safe until the Day of the Seating even if it means keeping the beautiful Sidhe warrior Kalis close to him. Will he be able to protect his naïve, but stubborn bride-to-be not just from Harlu but from his warrior mistress? He once again turns to his brother and cousin, to only find that Tolan has his own problems with his feisty Julia. Thank goodness for the future king of Velesi that he has Phoris, Alorn and Mellis to cover his royal back. Welcome to Velesi, a realm existing alongside our own with their own rules, their own players and their own way of life.
The Whispering:
Tharin and Lily find themselves back in Pathen in search of Julia and the key to Eirrell, but old foes and new ones are in close pursuit. Adding to their plight, all doorways to Velesi have been closed. Forced to discover a way back to their realm, the group finds help from new friends and those who once stood against them are now allies. To make matters worse, a betrayal causes the door to the UnderRealm to open, allowing demons and monsters once imprisoned to roam the realm freely. Time is of the essence as there are only two Ancients left while Ka grows weaker, struggling to hold the realm together. It is up to Tharin and Lily to find the doorway to Eirrell, call the Unnamed Sidhe and save Velesi. Journey back to Velesi and join Tharin, Lily, Tolan, Julia, Alorn, Mellis, Ziri and Cessa to save the realm and maybe have a wedding...or two, but then again, it is Velesi...so maybe not.
First off: there is no sex in this book. Some suggestive statements but nothing descriptive like that. There is some foul language, particularly in Book 3 but I would recommend this to an older teen. It is definitely YA.
This series is great if you love books about the fae, faeries, elves, that sort of thing. The story jumps up and starts running right out of the gate. Lily is thrown into this world and within the first chapter she is finding out she is betrothed to an elf prince and is wanted dead or alive. She is literally thrown into this storyline....there is no build-up. However, this author does it in such a way that you don't feel like you're missing a lot of details. Things are explained as you go along and you find the action of the book forward moving.
What sells me on this book is her cast of characters. Often in books, the main couple/love interests make the book interesting but not this book. Every. single. character is funny and lovable and I want her to write a series about each and every one of them. As much as I get invested in the relationship of Lily and Tharin, I find myself rooting for Julia and Tolan as well. I love Tolan. He is kinda the sidekick but he is so LOVABLE! And the fellas that round up the ensemble: Alorn, Phoris, Ziri, and Mellis. I think I find myself more in love with Mellis than Tharin, which is saying a lot.
Now my one critique: I get a little tired of the back and forth with Lily and Tharin. "Does he love me? Does he love her? I have to give him up for the greater good....." "She hasn't said she loves me. She seems uncertain. I'm jealous of any man that looks at her b/c she may want him instead of me." Blah blah blah! Move on you two! Someone lay the cards out on the table and be done with it. That aspect was a little juvenile for me. But what I recommend these books? Absolutely! I really do love when the story is finished and she manages, not only to complete the journey she started but she leaves a teaser dangling and maybe, just maybe, one day my adorable little "sidekicks" will have their own novel and their own story to tell. I'm really looking forward to that: Truly!
I'll include the amazon descriptions:
The Binding:
Two nights after her eighteenth birthday, Lily is attacked while out jogging but is saved by Tharin Lunar, a Sidhe prince. When she discovers her attacker is her own brother, Lucas, who disappeared four years ago, Lily refuses to believe he would truly hurt her and becomes determined to find Lucas and bring him home. She finds Lucas's disappearance is somehow tied to Tharin; so when he informs her that she is his betrothed and must return with him to Velesi, fulfill a treaty between their families and unite the two strongest clans through their marriage, Lily agrees. However, she is not going to Velesi for a wedding, but to bring home her only family, Lucas. On their journey to the borders of Velesi, the realm of the Thirteen Clans, they are pursued by a Sidhe assassin group call the Ange, meet with an ogre crime lord that ends badly, deal with a sleazy troll motel manager, and when they discover there is a bounty on their heads, they must keep one step ahead of every assassin, bounty hunter and low-life criminal from Velesi. Protecting Lily has become the biggest challenge of Tharin's life. Lucky for him he has help in the form of his twin brother, Tolan, Lily's best friend Julia and his three bodyguard cousins – Alorn, Phoris and Mellis.
The Drifting:
It is Lily’s first day in the Velesi realm but not as the princess she was made to believe, but as a captive to a strange Lithi elf name Ziri – Tharin and Tolan’s mysterious brother. Who is he and why has he taken her? Or is he only a pawn in someone’s deadly game of chess? Tharin and Lily discover a prophecy involving the Unnamed Sidhe and a way back to Eirrell, the birthplace of the Thirteen Clans. However, before they can get to the doorway to Eirrell, Lily must first make it to the Day of the Seating to take her rightful place on the throne of the Willow Clan. Tharin must keep Lily safe until the Day of the Seating even if it means keeping the beautiful Sidhe warrior Kalis close to him. Will he be able to protect his naïve, but stubborn bride-to-be not just from Harlu but from his warrior mistress? He once again turns to his brother and cousin, to only find that Tolan has his own problems with his feisty Julia. Thank goodness for the future king of Velesi that he has Phoris, Alorn and Mellis to cover his royal back. Welcome to Velesi, a realm existing alongside our own with their own rules, their own players and their own way of life.
The Whispering:
Tharin and Lily find themselves back in Pathen in search of Julia and the key to Eirrell, but old foes and new ones are in close pursuit. Adding to their plight, all doorways to Velesi have been closed. Forced to discover a way back to their realm, the group finds help from new friends and those who once stood against them are now allies. To make matters worse, a betrayal causes the door to the UnderRealm to open, allowing demons and monsters once imprisoned to roam the realm freely. Time is of the essence as there are only two Ancients left while Ka grows weaker, struggling to hold the realm together. It is up to Tharin and Lily to find the doorway to Eirrell, call the Unnamed Sidhe and save Velesi. Journey back to Velesi and join Tharin, Lily, Tolan, Julia, Alorn, Mellis, Ziri and Cessa to save the realm and maybe have a wedding...or two, but then again, it is Velesi...so maybe not.
Poisonwell (Whispers of Mirrowen Book 3) by Jeff Wheeler
SPOILER ALERT! I will discuss book 3 and if you haven't read book 1 or 2 yet, Stop reading this!
Now this is the second series of Jeff Wheeler that I've read and I've talked much about how I don't normally like male writers but this guy does well. He keeps the storyline moving and he manages to write a pretty decent love story in his books. In this series' case, there are a few love stories and he handles them all well. I particularly love where he goes with Phae's and Scion's story. He even manages to honk me off a few times but comes back and makes it up to the reader so I forgive him. I love those kind of plot twists. Here's why: after you've read so many books, sometimes other books become predictable. You can tell where the author is going to go before you even get to that point. B/c it's what makes sense and what makes the story likable. This author however throws "conventional writing" out the window. He writes a few twists in the story that makes you think that he doesn't really care whether you like it or not. And that's what makes it unpredictable. There were a few times in this book that I almost thought I didn't want to get to the end b/c he killed a character or took a turn that I didn't want or expect. However, he finished it nicely and neatly and I forgave him in the end! (heeheehee)
Now, with all that being said, he did what I complain about male authors.....he got WORDY! That's right! He did what I hate! He got so long winded and tried to write a little prequel novella shoved right there about about 3/4 of the way through the book. I couldn't believe it! Here we are, at the BIG MOMENT, the whole SHE-BANG, the reason you have to see what will happen, will good triumph over evil?!? And he stops and makes the heroine, in this case Phae, go back to where the original story began, like 2000 years prior and then you have to relive the beginning life of the villian. ARE YOU SERIOUS!?! And what's worse, he totally copies a story from Greek mythology and disguises within his own backstory. Not cool, Mr. Wheeler, not cool!
So with all that being said, I skipped a few chapters in this book to get to the end. To get back to the characters that I've been following for 3 books. When I want to read the prequel, I'll go back and read those chapters but personal opinion, they had no business in the middle of this book. I will recommend this book if you've read the first two books of the Mirrowen series. But if you are crunched for time and want a real series to sink your teeth into, read his other series (Legends of Muirwood). I already reviewed those three and liked them much better overall.
Amazon description:
Now this is the second series of Jeff Wheeler that I've read and I've talked much about how I don't normally like male writers but this guy does well. He keeps the storyline moving and he manages to write a pretty decent love story in his books. In this series' case, there are a few love stories and he handles them all well. I particularly love where he goes with Phae's and Scion's story. He even manages to honk me off a few times but comes back and makes it up to the reader so I forgive him. I love those kind of plot twists. Here's why: after you've read so many books, sometimes other books become predictable. You can tell where the author is going to go before you even get to that point. B/c it's what makes sense and what makes the story likable. This author however throws "conventional writing" out the window. He writes a few twists in the story that makes you think that he doesn't really care whether you like it or not. And that's what makes it unpredictable. There were a few times in this book that I almost thought I didn't want to get to the end b/c he killed a character or took a turn that I didn't want or expect. However, he finished it nicely and neatly and I forgave him in the end! (heeheehee)
Now, with all that being said, he did what I complain about male authors.....he got WORDY! That's right! He did what I hate! He got so long winded and tried to write a little prequel novella shoved right there about about 3/4 of the way through the book. I couldn't believe it! Here we are, at the BIG MOMENT, the whole SHE-BANG, the reason you have to see what will happen, will good triumph over evil?!? And he stops and makes the heroine, in this case Phae, go back to where the original story began, like 2000 years prior and then you have to relive the beginning life of the villian. ARE YOU SERIOUS!?! And what's worse, he totally copies a story from Greek mythology and disguises within his own backstory. Not cool, Mr. Wheeler, not cool!
So with all that being said, I skipped a few chapters in this book to get to the end. To get back to the characters that I've been following for 3 books. When I want to read the prequel, I'll go back and read those chapters but personal opinion, they had no business in the middle of this book. I will recommend this book if you've read the first two books of the Mirrowen series. But if you are crunched for time and want a real series to sink your teeth into, read his other series (Legends of Muirwood). I already reviewed those three and liked them much better overall.
Amazon description:
The battle to save the kingdoms devastated
by the Plague culminates in this exhilarating finale to the Whispers
from Mirrowen trilogy.
If there is anything more dangerous than the Plague itself, it is the journey that awaits those sworn to stop it. Tyrus, the renegade magic-wielder exiled from Kenatos, knows this firsthand. His original mission through the Scourgelands met a tragic end, leaving him as the sole survivor.
Now all hope lies with his daughter, Phae, the uniquely gifted Dryad-born who can not only steal memories but also summon the power of the fireblood—and who alone has the power to breach the lost gate of Mirrowen. But first Phae and the comrades who have come to her aid must survive the most dangerous place on earth: the Scourgelands.
The menacing woods prove every bit as treacherous as reputed. Murder, sacrifice, deception, and an epic battle with a beast ensue. Will Phae reach the land beyond the grasp of the deadly Plague…or will the quest through the Scourgelands end in tragedy once again?
If there is anything more dangerous than the Plague itself, it is the journey that awaits those sworn to stop it. Tyrus, the renegade magic-wielder exiled from Kenatos, knows this firsthand. His original mission through the Scourgelands met a tragic end, leaving him as the sole survivor.
Now all hope lies with his daughter, Phae, the uniquely gifted Dryad-born who can not only steal memories but also summon the power of the fireblood—and who alone has the power to breach the lost gate of Mirrowen. But first Phae and the comrades who have come to her aid must survive the most dangerous place on earth: the Scourgelands.
The menacing woods prove every bit as treacherous as reputed. Murder, sacrifice, deception, and an epic battle with a beast ensue. Will Phae reach the land beyond the grasp of the deadly Plague…or will the quest through the Scourgelands end in tragedy once again?
Monday, February 23, 2015
the Divergent series by Veronica Roth
Okay kiddos, so here goes with the review of Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant. And don't you worry: I have A LOT to say!
So let me say a few things right off the bat. 1. Spoiler alert! I'm gonna talk about big stuff! 2. I did a big no-no by watching the movie BEFORE reading a book. That is almost never a good thing. I almost always like the book better than the movie (with the exception of The Princess Bride). With all that being said.....I loved BOTH the book Divergent and the movie Divergent. The other two books brought out quite a bit of feeling from me.
Normally, I would include the amazon description of the books before I review them. B/c this is a popular series, I'm going to put the descriptions at the bottom and my reviews at top. Sorry to change things up.
Okay, Divergent:
I. love. Four. I do; I love him. He is just a pea in my pod! I love his hostility, his vulnerability and the way he loves. I love the way he loves Tris. I get it. I enjoy Tris in the first book. I love to see her growth. I like the way she comes into herself as time goes on. I think Roth does a great job of creating a world that you can envision. The supporting characters are wonderful and have the great effect of being friends, comic relief, antagonists and just all around the spectrum of supporting characters. She begins STRONG with this storyline and I love where she goes with it. I almost wish she'd stopped with book 1. But it's okay; I'm not a hater.
Insurgent:
Let me break down Insurgent for you. 1. Run to another faction. 2. Stay there until you get kicked out/betrayed. 3. Cause an uproar that turns that faction upside down. 4. Get captured. 5. Escape. 6. Repeat in another faction/factionless. That is the whole of Insurgent. Meanwhile, the love story makes me move forward. I'll talk more about that in a minute.
Allegiant:
Words. More Words. And a lull......... Just keep reading.
Okay, so here's my honest opinion. Divergent is pure action and emotion and this nice little love story simmering along the bottom of the storyline and I loved that. Insurgent also had much action but I found the action a bit redundant. Insurgent's redeeming quality was the love story still simmers along the bottom. I think there were some profound love story moments in this book. Four, under the truth serum, confessing his feelings for Tris made my heart giggle. Her "death" in Insurgent brought about this great surge of emotion from so many characters, I loved that aspect. Why, oh why, oh why, oh why did I have to get 75% through the SECOND book for this girl to tell the boy she loved him?!? That had me way more frustrated than I should probably admit.
Now, had I made this review before finishing Allegiant, I would have ripped it to shreds. Allegiant has hardly any action in my opinion. I once read where JK Rowling said that she killed many parents in the Harry Potter series to demonstrate that war leaves orphans. And I won't even discuss Hunger Games and what she was trying to prove through it's violence. I have no issues with violence; I have no issues with war. I read to escape; to get away from the reality and the mundane of being a stay at home mom. I don't particularly like to read and feel a political statement being made through what I'm reading. I feel like Allegiant is a HUGE political statement. Roth is really trying to tell you something about war. At one point, I felt a parallel between this book and its "genetic purity" and Hitler and his pursuit for genetic purity. I really felt like she was so wordy in her attempt to teach us something. With all that being said, once I finished Allegiant, I liked it! I like how she ended it the book. There are some things I would do differently, if I were the author :) But I thought she ended it on a sweet note. Had it been reversed with the other character sacrificing, I don't think she could've ended with such a bittersweet note....it would just have been bitter. She made a great political statement when all was said and done...life carries on and you learn to move on or get left behind. I would've loved to seen more depth to Peter and maybe even Caleb. I would've loved for there to have been a huge romantic gesture by Four but let's be honest, by the end of Allegiant, Roth was over romantic gestures. She ended it having made her point and having said what she came here to say.
My final opinion: Will I reread this series? One day, many moons later, after I've grieved and accepted the fate of all the characters. Will I watch the other movies? Yeah. Will I continue to love Four and his sad little state of being? Oh, my yes. Will I recommend this series to you? Yes, as long as you know that there is a portion of the series where you have to remind yourself "just see where it goes". I feel like part of the time I was reading just to see what she would do with it. And in the end, I was pleased.
Now, for Amazon's description:
Divergent:
One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.
Insurgent:
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful.
Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Allegiant:
What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
So let me say a few things right off the bat. 1. Spoiler alert! I'm gonna talk about big stuff! 2. I did a big no-no by watching the movie BEFORE reading a book. That is almost never a good thing. I almost always like the book better than the movie (with the exception of The Princess Bride). With all that being said.....I loved BOTH the book Divergent and the movie Divergent. The other two books brought out quite a bit of feeling from me.
Normally, I would include the amazon description of the books before I review them. B/c this is a popular series, I'm going to put the descriptions at the bottom and my reviews at top. Sorry to change things up.
Okay, Divergent:
I. love. Four. I do; I love him. He is just a pea in my pod! I love his hostility, his vulnerability and the way he loves. I love the way he loves Tris. I get it. I enjoy Tris in the first book. I love to see her growth. I like the way she comes into herself as time goes on. I think Roth does a great job of creating a world that you can envision. The supporting characters are wonderful and have the great effect of being friends, comic relief, antagonists and just all around the spectrum of supporting characters. She begins STRONG with this storyline and I love where she goes with it. I almost wish she'd stopped with book 1. But it's okay; I'm not a hater.
Insurgent:
Let me break down Insurgent for you. 1. Run to another faction. 2. Stay there until you get kicked out/betrayed. 3. Cause an uproar that turns that faction upside down. 4. Get captured. 5. Escape. 6. Repeat in another faction/factionless. That is the whole of Insurgent. Meanwhile, the love story makes me move forward. I'll talk more about that in a minute.
Allegiant:
Words. More Words. And a lull......... Just keep reading.
Okay, so here's my honest opinion. Divergent is pure action and emotion and this nice little love story simmering along the bottom of the storyline and I loved that. Insurgent also had much action but I found the action a bit redundant. Insurgent's redeeming quality was the love story still simmers along the bottom. I think there were some profound love story moments in this book. Four, under the truth serum, confessing his feelings for Tris made my heart giggle. Her "death" in Insurgent brought about this great surge of emotion from so many characters, I loved that aspect. Why, oh why, oh why, oh why did I have to get 75% through the SECOND book for this girl to tell the boy she loved him?!? That had me way more frustrated than I should probably admit.
Now, had I made this review before finishing Allegiant, I would have ripped it to shreds. Allegiant has hardly any action in my opinion. I once read where JK Rowling said that she killed many parents in the Harry Potter series to demonstrate that war leaves orphans. And I won't even discuss Hunger Games and what she was trying to prove through it's violence. I have no issues with violence; I have no issues with war. I read to escape; to get away from the reality and the mundane of being a stay at home mom. I don't particularly like to read and feel a political statement being made through what I'm reading. I feel like Allegiant is a HUGE political statement. Roth is really trying to tell you something about war. At one point, I felt a parallel between this book and its "genetic purity" and Hitler and his pursuit for genetic purity. I really felt like she was so wordy in her attempt to teach us something. With all that being said, once I finished Allegiant, I liked it! I like how she ended it the book. There are some things I would do differently, if I were the author :) But I thought she ended it on a sweet note. Had it been reversed with the other character sacrificing, I don't think she could've ended with such a bittersweet note....it would just have been bitter. She made a great political statement when all was said and done...life carries on and you learn to move on or get left behind. I would've loved to seen more depth to Peter and maybe even Caleb. I would've loved for there to have been a huge romantic gesture by Four but let's be honest, by the end of Allegiant, Roth was over romantic gestures. She ended it having made her point and having said what she came here to say.
My final opinion: Will I reread this series? One day, many moons later, after I've grieved and accepted the fate of all the characters. Will I watch the other movies? Yeah. Will I continue to love Four and his sad little state of being? Oh, my yes. Will I recommend this series to you? Yes, as long as you know that there is a portion of the series where you have to remind yourself "just see where it goes". I feel like part of the time I was reading just to see what she would do with it. And in the end, I was pleased.
Now, for Amazon's description:
Divergent:
One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.
Insurgent:
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful.
Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Allegiant:
What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Lark Rising by Sandra Waugh
This book is a fairly new release and I can't wait for the sequel. I'm not sure what genre it would qualify for except maybe fantasy.
Let's start with amazon's description:
Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.
My review:
Let's start with Lark. She seems like a pretty simple girl. She gets visions when she touches something (in another book series this gift is called "pyschometry"--don't I sound smart?). These visions can be gifts or curses. She shies away from human touch b/c of this gift. She doesn't like to be far from home b/c she can be overwhelmed by the emotions. She starts off very shy, content with her little place in life and her small role in her world. But she gets summoned/destined to head off on an adventure and off she goes. Quickly she is confronted with terrifying creatures and circumstances but this where Lark starts to grow and shine. Bravery is said to be the act of courage in the midst of fear. Lark is definitely brave. She learns to head off on a quest that she didn't ask for and really isn't close to prepared for but she does it anyway and by the end of book 1, you're not only rooting for her but you almost want to wink at how she has become so smart.
Bring in a group of "riders" (think knights) and you have the beginning of a great love story. Gharain carries some major angst when he meets Lark and to be honest, if I'd been her, I would've slapped the boy silly upon first meeting. He carries some baggage and at first it annoys me. But just as Lark grows up, Gharain learns to get over past mistakes and seeks to be better than the past. (I'm soundly majorly like Yoda right now; this books makes me philosophical I guess.)
Anyhooooo, the author manages to throw in some quirky side characters that make me wish for more backstories or even future stories which is why I'm so excited for book 2. She adds these side characters and makes them so darn likable that I think she could run this series on and on if she wanted. I look forward to seeing where she goes with it.
Oh, and for those who like to censor, there is no foul language and one kissing scene that is so ambiguous that I'm still wondering "did they or didn't they?". So certainly nothing graphic and just fun enough to make me smile when she blushes at Gharain getting out of the pool. I totally recommend it!
Let's start with amazon's description:
Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.
My review:
Let's start with Lark. She seems like a pretty simple girl. She gets visions when she touches something (in another book series this gift is called "pyschometry"--don't I sound smart?). These visions can be gifts or curses. She shies away from human touch b/c of this gift. She doesn't like to be far from home b/c she can be overwhelmed by the emotions. She starts off very shy, content with her little place in life and her small role in her world. But she gets summoned/destined to head off on an adventure and off she goes. Quickly she is confronted with terrifying creatures and circumstances but this where Lark starts to grow and shine. Bravery is said to be the act of courage in the midst of fear. Lark is definitely brave. She learns to head off on a quest that she didn't ask for and really isn't close to prepared for but she does it anyway and by the end of book 1, you're not only rooting for her but you almost want to wink at how she has become so smart.
Bring in a group of "riders" (think knights) and you have the beginning of a great love story. Gharain carries some major angst when he meets Lark and to be honest, if I'd been her, I would've slapped the boy silly upon first meeting. He carries some baggage and at first it annoys me. But just as Lark grows up, Gharain learns to get over past mistakes and seeks to be better than the past. (I'm soundly majorly like Yoda right now; this books makes me philosophical I guess.)
Anyhooooo, the author manages to throw in some quirky side characters that make me wish for more backstories or even future stories which is why I'm so excited for book 2. She adds these side characters and makes them so darn likable that I think she could run this series on and on if she wanted. I look forward to seeing where she goes with it.
Oh, and for those who like to censor, there is no foul language and one kissing scene that is so ambiguous that I'm still wondering "did they or didn't they?". So certainly nothing graphic and just fun enough to make me smile when she blushes at Gharain getting out of the pool. I totally recommend it!
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan
So, again I'm reviewing an entire series at a time and you'll thank me b/c Morgan leaves book 2 in a major cliff hanger so be thankful you didn't have to wait for book 3 like I did. Actually, I read these books last year and decided to review them after rereading them b/c I like them that much.
So here's the amazon descriptions:
Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow Book 1):
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day's work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone--she's about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she's broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he's discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot--and it'll take all her training to get out of it alive.
Faerie Prince (book 2):
Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn't forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current 'sort of friend'. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to 'collect' as many specially talented faeries as he can find--and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi's problems.
Faerie War (Book 3):
Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.
As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?
Okay, my review: First off, this is a good YA book. There is no explicit sex. There are make-out sessions but they are teenagers, make-out sessions are fun! There is only one curse word used throughout the series and it isn't referring to a donkey.
Book 1 is not my favorite but it starts a good story. It is definitely the beginning of greater things to come and book 2 is by far greater. I love Violet in book 1. She is kinda naive in the first book. She is strong, independent, and has a plan.....but sometimes plans just don't go the way we, well, plan. She has some puppy love and of course, that's what starts her whole mess. But what I love the most is how she grows as the series goes on. And I love, love, love Ryn! He's up there on my top 5 favorite fictional crushes! That's pretty big stuff! I have a few assassins and tough fellas on that list and this goofy, reckless, playboy steals my heart and yay b/c he steals Violet's heart too!
Book 3 is a few things for me. Okay, I mentioned that book 2 is a cliff hanger....like a HUGE cliff hanger and so I was a little impatient with book 3. You can't leave me hanging and then slowly drag me around from a couple different points of view. Now, with that being said, some people may like that. I was sitting on the edge of my seat seeing how she would bring it all back around together and she did....but it took awhile. I also felt that she spent so much time bringing it all back around and then rushed the big confrontation at the end. She could've given me about 5 more chapters for the big final conflict. She also left something unresolved. So while it seemingly ends, I can see her surprising us with another story down the line. I also will mention, though it's not a criticism, that I saw some parallels with Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments series. I even noticed some similar character names as the City of Bones gang. I don't know if it was intentional or maybe just something I picked up on. I don't think she stole ideas at all but there were some similarities that I think someone might notice, if they look hard enough.
With all that being said, like I mentioned earlier, I reread this series. I really like this series. I love Violet and Ryn. Nate is a little "ehn" for me but you can't win them all and that's okay. I recommend these books. If you like kick butt faeries, magical realms parallel to the human world, and you like a little romance in between all out battles, you'll like this series :)
So here's the amazon descriptions:
Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow Book 1):
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day's work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone--she's about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she's broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he's discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot--and it'll take all her training to get out of it alive.
Faerie Prince (book 2):
Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn't forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current 'sort of friend'. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to 'collect' as many specially talented faeries as he can find--and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi's problems.
Faerie War (Book 3):
Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.
As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?
Okay, my review: First off, this is a good YA book. There is no explicit sex. There are make-out sessions but they are teenagers, make-out sessions are fun! There is only one curse word used throughout the series and it isn't referring to a donkey.
Book 1 is not my favorite but it starts a good story. It is definitely the beginning of greater things to come and book 2 is by far greater. I love Violet in book 1. She is kinda naive in the first book. She is strong, independent, and has a plan.....but sometimes plans just don't go the way we, well, plan. She has some puppy love and of course, that's what starts her whole mess. But what I love the most is how she grows as the series goes on. And I love, love, love Ryn! He's up there on my top 5 favorite fictional crushes! That's pretty big stuff! I have a few assassins and tough fellas on that list and this goofy, reckless, playboy steals my heart and yay b/c he steals Violet's heart too!
Book 3 is a few things for me. Okay, I mentioned that book 2 is a cliff hanger....like a HUGE cliff hanger and so I was a little impatient with book 3. You can't leave me hanging and then slowly drag me around from a couple different points of view. Now, with that being said, some people may like that. I was sitting on the edge of my seat seeing how she would bring it all back around together and she did....but it took awhile. I also felt that she spent so much time bringing it all back around and then rushed the big confrontation at the end. She could've given me about 5 more chapters for the big final conflict. She also left something unresolved. So while it seemingly ends, I can see her surprising us with another story down the line. I also will mention, though it's not a criticism, that I saw some parallels with Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments series. I even noticed some similar character names as the City of Bones gang. I don't know if it was intentional or maybe just something I picked up on. I don't think she stole ideas at all but there were some similarities that I think someone might notice, if they look hard enough.
With all that being said, like I mentioned earlier, I reread this series. I really like this series. I love Violet and Ryn. Nate is a little "ehn" for me but you can't win them all and that's okay. I recommend these books. If you like kick butt faeries, magical realms parallel to the human world, and you like a little romance in between all out battles, you'll like this series :)
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Dragon Blood series by Lindsay Buroker
So far there are 4 books in this series and I will cover all of them.
So, I reviewed another series by Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge series, and gave it glowing reviews. There were 7 in that series with several side novellas that I also enjoyed. I find myself thinking of Buroker as one of my "go to" authors, alongside Sherwood Smith and Maria V. Snyder. I love her books. I love her series and I love that she makes her a little bit edgy with just enough romance to make this stay-at-home mom feeling flirty! Buroker is definitely steampunk genre (Steampunk is a term used for books that tend to bring magic/modern technology and combine it with historical fiction type books.) She creates just enough history/technology with magic to make it interesting and creative. It's definitely not your typical fantasy book. There is also a sense of nostalgia, makes me think of 1910s/1920s when the world was just a little dirtier, from soot and unwashed bodies and general lack of sterilization. Hope that makes sense; I'm not quite an author when it comes to expression.
For the fast forward review, there is a little bit of sex in the first book. The rest of the books elude to sexual jokes/innuendos but in a way that is smart and funny and not vulgar. I'm trying to recall foul language and I can't so there really must not be much in that way either.
Here's amazon's descriptions of each book, then I'll review more at the bottom.
Balanced on the Blade's Edge (Dragon Blood Book 1):
Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn’t the model of military professionalism—he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship—but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron—what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives…
Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people.
Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade—her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn’t her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death.
Deathmaker (Book 2):
When Lieutenant Caslin Ahn joined Wolf Squadron, she was prepared for the reality that she might one day be killed in the line of duty. She was less prepared for being shot down, assumed dead by her own people, and dragged off to the Cofah Empire as a prisoner of war. As if being thrust into a dungeon and interrogated wasn't bad enough, the sadistic commandant decides to give her a cellmate: the notorious pirate Deathmaker. Given the crimes he's committed against Iskandia, Cas owes it to her people to try and kill him.
Part warrior and part scientist, Tolemek "Deathmaker" Targoson has not only slain thousands with his deadly concoctions, but he has a special loathing for Iskandian pilots. It was Ahn's commander, Colonel Zirkander, who ruined his military career, forcing him to leave his country in shame and join a pirate organization. Years later, he uses his dreadful reputation like a shield to keep people away; all he wants is to be left alone to work in his laboratory. But when fate lands him in a cell with Zirkander's protégé, he sees a chance for revenge. Why kill the lieutenant when he can use her to get to his old nemesis?
There's just one problem: it's hard to plot against your enemies when you're in prison with them. Cas and Tolemek will have to work together if they hope to escape the Cofah dungeon. In the process, they may find that neither is what the other expects, and that they have far greater problems to worry about than ensnaring each other...
Deathmaker is a full-length 85,000-word novel. It is set after the events in Balanced on the Blade’s Edge, but it can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the first book.
Blood Charged (Book 3):
Sardelle Terushan, sorceress and healer, should be lying low. Magic is forbidden in Iskandia, and magic users are drowned, shot, or otherwise slain. The problem? She's fallen in love with ace fighter pilot and national hero, Colonel Ridge Zirkander, a man whom everybody notices, including the king. It's not long before Sardelle has spies dogging her steps and people trying to blow her up. Worse, her presence is jeopardizing Ridge's career. If she can't find a solution to the nation's centuries-old hatred of magic, the only way to protect Ridge—and herself—may be to leave.
Ridge Zirkander isn't used to worrying about more than shooting down Cofah airships and keeping the officers in his squadron alive, but his world has gotten more complicated since giving his heart to Sardelle. It's difficult to keep people from noticing a mysterious and enigmatic woman, not to mention her chatty sentient sword. He's been passing her off as an archaeologist to his fellow pilots, but when the king calls him in to a private meeting, Ridge fears his secret has been discovered.
But the king—and the rest of the country—has a greater problem. Cofah military scientists have acquired something that shouldn't exist in the world any longer: dragon blood. In addition to having countless mysterious properties, it's a powerful energy source that can be used to create devastating weapons. Ridge, Sardelle, and their allies must travel to the empire as part of a secret strike force to steal the dragon blood. If they fail, the Cofah will finally have the power to destroy all of Iskandia.
Patterns in the Dark (Book 4):
Everyone knows dragons have been extinct for over a thousand years. Everyone is wrong. At least one dragon remains, and military scientists from the Cofah Empire are experimenting with its blood, using the magical substance to power deadly new weapons that could be used to bring the world to its knees.
That's a concern for Zirkander, Cas, and the rest of the Iskandians, but all Tolemek wants is to find his missing sister. The last time he saw her, their father had locked her in an asylum because of a mental illness with no cure. Now the military has taken her. What use the Cofah have for her, Tolemek can only guess, but he is certain she is in danger. He must save her before it's too late. But her fate is inexplicably tied to the dragon's, and he must find it to find her.
My Review:
Book 1 is interesting. Zirkander and Sardelle are fascinating characters and it is a great start to the series, albeit a little bit of a slow start. Their relationship is very quickly sexually charged and kinda leaves you wondering if they really have a thing for each other or is it just lust.
Jaxi, the darling vicious soulblade, is the perfect character. She's funny, tells it like it is, and is very engaging and important to the storyline considering she is a talking sword.
Put them all together and like I said, it's a great start. Just kinda gives you a taste of this series.
Book 2 is where I became a big fan. Again, I find myself drawn to "Deathmaker", a bad boy pirate who really just has a bad reputation (he's a softy at heart). I love this storyline. This a stand alone, spin off tale from the first book, telling the story of a character briefly mentioned in book 1. Don't worry; they come together at one point. I found this book very enjoyable! I love the relationship with Cas and Tolomek. They both just want to survive and find out as time goes on that surviving together might just be a good thing.
Book 3 brings them all together and it is not one big happy family. Zirkander and Tolomek tolerate each other. Both couples are a tad jealous of the other couple and throw in a couple of side characters, Apex and Duck and you just want to have everyone over for Christmas dinner....because you want them to be real people and you want to hang out with them.
Book 4 continues on with the adventure started in Book 3 and I will say there were moments I was a little unhappy with the author. I found myself thinking "she better resolve this in a way that I'll like." No offense to the author but the sign of a good book is one that you are invested in and I was invested in Buroker making this story go the way I wanted.
I'm finding myself thinking this author, this girl, is on my wave length. I enjoy what she puts out there. Sometimes she has moments of brilliant quotes that I think are perfect for life in general. I even have to look up a few words sometimes which is nice for personal growth. I highly recommend this series, even though it isn't done yet. I highly recommend this author, Lindsay Buroker. She writes good stuff. It's witty and not too gritty!
So, I reviewed another series by Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge series, and gave it glowing reviews. There were 7 in that series with several side novellas that I also enjoyed. I find myself thinking of Buroker as one of my "go to" authors, alongside Sherwood Smith and Maria V. Snyder. I love her books. I love her series and I love that she makes her a little bit edgy with just enough romance to make this stay-at-home mom feeling flirty! Buroker is definitely steampunk genre (Steampunk is a term used for books that tend to bring magic/modern technology and combine it with historical fiction type books.) She creates just enough history/technology with magic to make it interesting and creative. It's definitely not your typical fantasy book. There is also a sense of nostalgia, makes me think of 1910s/1920s when the world was just a little dirtier, from soot and unwashed bodies and general lack of sterilization. Hope that makes sense; I'm not quite an author when it comes to expression.
For the fast forward review, there is a little bit of sex in the first book. The rest of the books elude to sexual jokes/innuendos but in a way that is smart and funny and not vulgar. I'm trying to recall foul language and I can't so there really must not be much in that way either.
Here's amazon's descriptions of each book, then I'll review more at the bottom.
Balanced on the Blade's Edge (Dragon Blood Book 1):
Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn’t the model of military professionalism—he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship—but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron—what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives…
Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people.
Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade—her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn’t her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death.
Deathmaker (Book 2):
When Lieutenant Caslin Ahn joined Wolf Squadron, she was prepared for the reality that she might one day be killed in the line of duty. She was less prepared for being shot down, assumed dead by her own people, and dragged off to the Cofah Empire as a prisoner of war. As if being thrust into a dungeon and interrogated wasn't bad enough, the sadistic commandant decides to give her a cellmate: the notorious pirate Deathmaker. Given the crimes he's committed against Iskandia, Cas owes it to her people to try and kill him.
Part warrior and part scientist, Tolemek "Deathmaker" Targoson has not only slain thousands with his deadly concoctions, but he has a special loathing for Iskandian pilots. It was Ahn's commander, Colonel Zirkander, who ruined his military career, forcing him to leave his country in shame and join a pirate organization. Years later, he uses his dreadful reputation like a shield to keep people away; all he wants is to be left alone to work in his laboratory. But when fate lands him in a cell with Zirkander's protégé, he sees a chance for revenge. Why kill the lieutenant when he can use her to get to his old nemesis?
There's just one problem: it's hard to plot against your enemies when you're in prison with them. Cas and Tolemek will have to work together if they hope to escape the Cofah dungeon. In the process, they may find that neither is what the other expects, and that they have far greater problems to worry about than ensnaring each other...
Deathmaker is a full-length 85,000-word novel. It is set after the events in Balanced on the Blade’s Edge, but it can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the first book.
Blood Charged (Book 3):
Sardelle Terushan, sorceress and healer, should be lying low. Magic is forbidden in Iskandia, and magic users are drowned, shot, or otherwise slain. The problem? She's fallen in love with ace fighter pilot and national hero, Colonel Ridge Zirkander, a man whom everybody notices, including the king. It's not long before Sardelle has spies dogging her steps and people trying to blow her up. Worse, her presence is jeopardizing Ridge's career. If she can't find a solution to the nation's centuries-old hatred of magic, the only way to protect Ridge—and herself—may be to leave.
Ridge Zirkander isn't used to worrying about more than shooting down Cofah airships and keeping the officers in his squadron alive, but his world has gotten more complicated since giving his heart to Sardelle. It's difficult to keep people from noticing a mysterious and enigmatic woman, not to mention her chatty sentient sword. He's been passing her off as an archaeologist to his fellow pilots, but when the king calls him in to a private meeting, Ridge fears his secret has been discovered.
But the king—and the rest of the country—has a greater problem. Cofah military scientists have acquired something that shouldn't exist in the world any longer: dragon blood. In addition to having countless mysterious properties, it's a powerful energy source that can be used to create devastating weapons. Ridge, Sardelle, and their allies must travel to the empire as part of a secret strike force to steal the dragon blood. If they fail, the Cofah will finally have the power to destroy all of Iskandia.
Patterns in the Dark (Book 4):
Everyone knows dragons have been extinct for over a thousand years. Everyone is wrong. At least one dragon remains, and military scientists from the Cofah Empire are experimenting with its blood, using the magical substance to power deadly new weapons that could be used to bring the world to its knees.
That's a concern for Zirkander, Cas, and the rest of the Iskandians, but all Tolemek wants is to find his missing sister. The last time he saw her, their father had locked her in an asylum because of a mental illness with no cure. Now the military has taken her. What use the Cofah have for her, Tolemek can only guess, but he is certain she is in danger. He must save her before it's too late. But her fate is inexplicably tied to the dragon's, and he must find it to find her.
My Review:
Book 1 is interesting. Zirkander and Sardelle are fascinating characters and it is a great start to the series, albeit a little bit of a slow start. Their relationship is very quickly sexually charged and kinda leaves you wondering if they really have a thing for each other or is it just lust.
Jaxi, the darling vicious soulblade, is the perfect character. She's funny, tells it like it is, and is very engaging and important to the storyline considering she is a talking sword.
Put them all together and like I said, it's a great start. Just kinda gives you a taste of this series.
Book 2 is where I became a big fan. Again, I find myself drawn to "Deathmaker", a bad boy pirate who really just has a bad reputation (he's a softy at heart). I love this storyline. This a stand alone, spin off tale from the first book, telling the story of a character briefly mentioned in book 1. Don't worry; they come together at one point. I found this book very enjoyable! I love the relationship with Cas and Tolomek. They both just want to survive and find out as time goes on that surviving together might just be a good thing.
Book 3 brings them all together and it is not one big happy family. Zirkander and Tolomek tolerate each other. Both couples are a tad jealous of the other couple and throw in a couple of side characters, Apex and Duck and you just want to have everyone over for Christmas dinner....because you want them to be real people and you want to hang out with them.
Book 4 continues on with the adventure started in Book 3 and I will say there were moments I was a little unhappy with the author. I found myself thinking "she better resolve this in a way that I'll like." No offense to the author but the sign of a good book is one that you are invested in and I was invested in Buroker making this story go the way I wanted.
I'm finding myself thinking this author, this girl, is on my wave length. I enjoy what she puts out there. Sometimes she has moments of brilliant quotes that I think are perfect for life in general. I even have to look up a few words sometimes which is nice for personal growth. I highly recommend this series, even though it isn't done yet. I highly recommend this author, Lindsay Buroker. She writes good stuff. It's witty and not too gritty!
Monday, February 9, 2015
Mary, Martha, and Me by Camille Fronk Olson
Wow, a serious, spiritual book as opposed to a fantasy ridden tale? I know "who knew Greta had such depth?" But here it is. I've read this book before and I do find it helpful b/c I am a Martha (the sister from Bethany mentioned in the New Testament gospels). I am a do-er who would rather work making supper than sit and listen to teachings. And that's not necessarily a bad thing or so this book discusses.
From the dustcover:
"When someone says, 'She's a Martha type,' we know just what that means: a woman who is practical, competent, down-to-earth. We recognize that Marthas are certainly useful and necessary, but it's usually Mary who gets the halo.
In a world that thrives on comparison and competition, our souls yearn for One Needful Thing to provide focus and direction. Here author Camille Fronk Olson draws unique insights from the biblical story of two sisters, Mary and Martha--each of whom serves Jesus in a different way--to help us sort through the mixed messages of daily life and solve the problem of comparing our gifts and contributions with others'.
For all of us who fear that we can never know enough or do enough, Sister Olson brings inspiration from the lessons that Mary and Martha learn from each other in finding the "one thing [that] is needful" for all."
So for my review, first of, I enjoy reading books of biblical history. I enjoy this kind of non-fiction where I look at a biblical figure and see them as a person, not a character in my novel. I love the idea of seeing what makes them tick. In the case of Martha, she kinda gets a bad rap most of the time and I'm totally a Martha so I wanted some vindication for her. I won't say that this book provides that b/c it doesn't. But it does give us insight into how Martha might have grown from her interactions with Christ and it provided some good advice for me, a person who does compare and justify and does get bogged down in the details. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna add some of my favorite quotes from the book and hopefully you'll find them uplifting too.
1."Why does a compliment to one have to diminish the value of another? I love the King James Translation of Christ's answer to Martha: 'Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her' (Luke 10:42). What is He saying about Mary's choice of service? It is good. What does that say about Martha's service? Nothing. When we label Martha's active service as not as good, or even bad in comparison to Mary's studious service, we create a dichotomy that Christ did not imply."
2. Then he (Christ) delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. The Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. Apparently he was content to let her serve him however she cared to, until she judged another person's service. Martha's self-importance, expressed through her judgement of her sister, occasioned the Lord's rebuke, not her busyness with the meal."
3. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped.
4. ...questions led her to a new appreciation for the ubiquitous Book of Mormon phrase: "And it came to pass." With her new insight, Sister Kapp saw in that phrase a representation of countless disciples who helped move God's work from where it had been to where it then was. Those names and acts of service are not announced to us "that [their] alms may be in secret and [their] Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward [them] openly" (Matthew 6:4). The Father's "history book" perfectly remembers each act of service sincerely rendered.
5. Grandma gave me one of her finest gifts when she graciously and overtly accepted my help, communicating that my efforts made a difference.
6. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with 'good things' so there is no room for the essential ones.
7. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do.--Gordon B. Hinckley
From the dustcover:
"When someone says, 'She's a Martha type,' we know just what that means: a woman who is practical, competent, down-to-earth. We recognize that Marthas are certainly useful and necessary, but it's usually Mary who gets the halo.
In a world that thrives on comparison and competition, our souls yearn for One Needful Thing to provide focus and direction. Here author Camille Fronk Olson draws unique insights from the biblical story of two sisters, Mary and Martha--each of whom serves Jesus in a different way--to help us sort through the mixed messages of daily life and solve the problem of comparing our gifts and contributions with others'.
For all of us who fear that we can never know enough or do enough, Sister Olson brings inspiration from the lessons that Mary and Martha learn from each other in finding the "one thing [that] is needful" for all."
So for my review, first of, I enjoy reading books of biblical history. I enjoy this kind of non-fiction where I look at a biblical figure and see them as a person, not a character in my novel. I love the idea of seeing what makes them tick. In the case of Martha, she kinda gets a bad rap most of the time and I'm totally a Martha so I wanted some vindication for her. I won't say that this book provides that b/c it doesn't. But it does give us insight into how Martha might have grown from her interactions with Christ and it provided some good advice for me, a person who does compare and justify and does get bogged down in the details. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna add some of my favorite quotes from the book and hopefully you'll find them uplifting too.
1."Why does a compliment to one have to diminish the value of another? I love the King James Translation of Christ's answer to Martha: 'Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her' (Luke 10:42). What is He saying about Mary's choice of service? It is good. What does that say about Martha's service? Nothing. When we label Martha's active service as not as good, or even bad in comparison to Mary's studious service, we create a dichotomy that Christ did not imply."
2. Then he (Christ) delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. The Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. Apparently he was content to let her serve him however she cared to, until she judged another person's service. Martha's self-importance, expressed through her judgement of her sister, occasioned the Lord's rebuke, not her busyness with the meal."
3. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped.
4. ...questions led her to a new appreciation for the ubiquitous Book of Mormon phrase: "And it came to pass." With her new insight, Sister Kapp saw in that phrase a representation of countless disciples who helped move God's work from where it had been to where it then was. Those names and acts of service are not announced to us "that [their] alms may be in secret and [their] Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward [them] openly" (Matthew 6:4). The Father's "history book" perfectly remembers each act of service sincerely rendered.
5. Grandma gave me one of her finest gifts when she graciously and overtly accepted my help, communicating that my efforts made a difference.
6. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with 'good things' so there is no room for the essential ones.
7. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do.--Gordon B. Hinckley
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Fianna trilogy (Books 1 and 2) by Megan Chance
This is the review of two books in the Fianna Trilogy. Book 3 is not out yet.
Amazon description of The Shadows (Book 1):
Amazon description of The Shadows (Book 1):
Grace Knox is about to turn seventeen, and
the world of Victorian New York society should be opening to her—a time
of dances and parties and boys vying for her heart and her hand.
Instead, Grace’s world is closing in: the family business is gone; her
brother is drinking and gambling away whatever is left; her widowed
mother cannot cope; and her grandmother is slipping into madness. And
now Grace is having disturbing dreams of ancient battles.
Grace’s only hope is to marry Patrick Devlin and let his fortune save them all. But she isn’t sure she loves Patrick, and she doesn’t share his passion to free Ireland from British rule. Why look to Ireland when there is so much poverty and despair here?
Then Grace meets Diarmid, an Irish stableboy. Being with him means losing everything. But the secrets and mystery surrounding him are too compelling to ignore. Soon Grace is drawn into his world of legend and heroes, magic and prophecy—the world of her dreams—where her own choice between faith and fear holds the greatest power of all.
Now, I enjoyed this book. First off, no real foul language, no sex, pretty easy read. It starts off a little backward and it takes a few chapters to understand what you just read but it's fun! It's got some great Irish/celtic mythology and folklore and who doesn't like a tall, dark Irish stableboy who makes every girl a little weak in the knees. I found myself thinking "aye lass" for most of my replies to my kids for a week :) But what makes this such a good read for me was that it had me guessing. I've read a lot of books. I can usually sense where the author is going to take the story or at least predict who the heroine will end up with if there is a love triangle. I can't do that with this series. The clear right and wrong is a little blurry for me. I usually attach myself to one of the fellas in the triangle and take it personally if the author doesn't pair the girl up with the guy I picked. But I don't know who I pick. Diarmid is dreamy but he's also willing to sacrifice a little too much of himself for my taste. And while Patrick makes some major mistakes, he clearly loves her and wants to protect her. So yeah, I don't know who Grace should be with.
I will say this one critique though: I do get a little sick of Grace and Diarmid dancing around each other and not just saying their thoughts. Stop trying to assume that you know what the other one is thinking. Just talk it out. That kinda gets on my nerves but that's just my nitpicking.
Amazon description of The Web (book 2):
Grace’s only hope is to marry Patrick Devlin and let his fortune save them all. But she isn’t sure she loves Patrick, and she doesn’t share his passion to free Ireland from British rule. Why look to Ireland when there is so much poverty and despair here?
Then Grace meets Diarmid, an Irish stableboy. Being with him means losing everything. But the secrets and mystery surrounding him are too compelling to ignore. Soon Grace is drawn into his world of legend and heroes, magic and prophecy—the world of her dreams—where her own choice between faith and fear holds the greatest power of all.
Now, I enjoyed this book. First off, no real foul language, no sex, pretty easy read. It starts off a little backward and it takes a few chapters to understand what you just read but it's fun! It's got some great Irish/celtic mythology and folklore and who doesn't like a tall, dark Irish stableboy who makes every girl a little weak in the knees. I found myself thinking "aye lass" for most of my replies to my kids for a week :) But what makes this such a good read for me was that it had me guessing. I've read a lot of books. I can usually sense where the author is going to take the story or at least predict who the heroine will end up with if there is a love triangle. I can't do that with this series. The clear right and wrong is a little blurry for me. I usually attach myself to one of the fellas in the triangle and take it personally if the author doesn't pair the girl up with the guy I picked. But I don't know who I pick. Diarmid is dreamy but he's also willing to sacrifice a little too much of himself for my taste. And while Patrick makes some major mistakes, he clearly loves her and wants to protect her. So yeah, I don't know who Grace should be with.
I will say this one critique though: I do get a little sick of Grace and Diarmid dancing around each other and not just saying their thoughts. Stop trying to assume that you know what the other one is thinking. Just talk it out. That kinda gets on my nerves but that's just my nitpicking.
Amazon description of The Web (book 2):
In Victorian New York, seventeen-year-old Grace Knox is tangled in the web of an ancient prophecy.
The Fianna, legendary Irish warriors, have been magically called from their undying sleep to aid Ireland in its rebellion against Britain. But the Fianna have awakened in New York alongside their bitter enemies, the Fomori. A prophecy demands that a Druid priestess—a veleda—must choose between these two sides. Grace is this veleda. But being the veleda means she must sacrifice her power—and her life—to her choice. On one side are her fiancé, Patrick Devlin, and the Fomori. On the other are the Fianna—and the warrior Diarmid Ua Duibhne, with whom Grace shares an undeniable connection. Patrick has promised to find a way to save her life. In three months, at the ancient ritual, Diarmid must wield the knife that kills her.
Grace doesn’t know whom to trust. As dark forces converge on the city, she struggles to discover the truth about her power. Can she change her own destiny? Can she escape the shadows of the past and reach for a future she could never have imagined?
I'll only say a little about book 2. First off, there is one sex scene but it is not overly explicit. She handles is pretty well. If you're a married woman, this is not going to embarrass you while you're reading it. If you're a teenage girl, ask your mother first. What I really love about this book is the outside characters. If the author decides to write a spinoff book about Oscar, I'll read it. I really just think he's a doll.
So yes, I recommend these books. I look forward to reading book 3 when it's out. I would read more of her books. I think she takes a good story and develops it in a great way.
The Fianna, legendary Irish warriors, have been magically called from their undying sleep to aid Ireland in its rebellion against Britain. But the Fianna have awakened in New York alongside their bitter enemies, the Fomori. A prophecy demands that a Druid priestess—a veleda—must choose between these two sides. Grace is this veleda. But being the veleda means she must sacrifice her power—and her life—to her choice. On one side are her fiancé, Patrick Devlin, and the Fomori. On the other are the Fianna—and the warrior Diarmid Ua Duibhne, with whom Grace shares an undeniable connection. Patrick has promised to find a way to save her life. In three months, at the ancient ritual, Diarmid must wield the knife that kills her.
Grace doesn’t know whom to trust. As dark forces converge on the city, she struggles to discover the truth about her power. Can she change her own destiny? Can she escape the shadows of the past and reach for a future she could never have imagined?
I'll only say a little about book 2. First off, there is one sex scene but it is not overly explicit. She handles is pretty well. If you're a married woman, this is not going to embarrass you while you're reading it. If you're a teenage girl, ask your mother first. What I really love about this book is the outside characters. If the author decides to write a spinoff book about Oscar, I'll read it. I really just think he's a doll.
So yes, I recommend these books. I look forward to reading book 3 when it's out. I would read more of her books. I think she takes a good story and develops it in a great way.
Gilded by Christina Farley
Okay, so I've mentioned before that I do not like to give bad reviews. Everyone has their own tastes and sometimes what floats my boat doesn't float someone else's. With that being said, I'm gonna try to respectful as I give a not-really-liking-it review.
This is Amazon's description of Gilded:
Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting into a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.
But that’s not Jae’s only problem.
There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.
Okay, so Greta's turn for description: This book is Farley's first novel and it shows. I spent most of the time feeling like this book was written by a 14 year old girl. Jae Hwa, the supposed black belt with deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, is a wimp. She spends most of the novel telling us how she doesn't need protection or any help and then screams, cries, or throws up every time she faces the bad guy. She also spends all her time in the book terrified of what's to come. While I get that being courageous in the face of fear is something to be proud of, don't make me read about it on every page of the book. Suck it up and go to work girl. Stop feeling hopeless throughout the entire novel.
As for the romance with Marc, she spends maybe twenty minutes with the guy in the book, shares one kiss and he professes love to her. Puh-lease! Dude is supposed to be some hot guy that the top mean girls are panting after and he follows after Jae like a puppy. He's also supposed to be super hot and have "mad skills" at being a guardian in training but the only evidence to support that is when he carries Jae around the island after she's hurt.
Now, the Korean mythology is what drew me in. I had no idea about any of the stories so I was curious and ready to hear some stories. You hear one story and then Farley throws in random snippets of Korean mythology with little to no explanation of where they come from or what they mean. She had a great plan/plot/storyline to draw in a potential reader. Unfortunately, she failed to deliver a book that I enjoyed. I finished it (I almost always do) but I'm so glad that I got the book for free. I wouldn't pay money to read it. I also looked up to see that she has written a sequel to this book. I won't pay the $5 they are asking for it. Maybe if they offer the 2nd book for free I'll read it....but that's only if I have no other books to read.
This is Amazon's description of Gilded:
Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting into a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.
But that’s not Jae’s only problem.
There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.
Okay, so Greta's turn for description: This book is Farley's first novel and it shows. I spent most of the time feeling like this book was written by a 14 year old girl. Jae Hwa, the supposed black belt with deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, is a wimp. She spends most of the novel telling us how she doesn't need protection or any help and then screams, cries, or throws up every time she faces the bad guy. She also spends all her time in the book terrified of what's to come. While I get that being courageous in the face of fear is something to be proud of, don't make me read about it on every page of the book. Suck it up and go to work girl. Stop feeling hopeless throughout the entire novel.
As for the romance with Marc, she spends maybe twenty minutes with the guy in the book, shares one kiss and he professes love to her. Puh-lease! Dude is supposed to be some hot guy that the top mean girls are panting after and he follows after Jae like a puppy. He's also supposed to be super hot and have "mad skills" at being a guardian in training but the only evidence to support that is when he carries Jae around the island after she's hurt.
Now, the Korean mythology is what drew me in. I had no idea about any of the stories so I was curious and ready to hear some stories. You hear one story and then Farley throws in random snippets of Korean mythology with little to no explanation of where they come from or what they mean. She had a great plan/plot/storyline to draw in a potential reader. Unfortunately, she failed to deliver a book that I enjoyed. I finished it (I almost always do) but I'm so glad that I got the book for free. I wouldn't pay money to read it. I also looked up to see that she has written a sequel to this book. I won't pay the $5 they are asking for it. Maybe if they offer the 2nd book for free I'll read it....but that's only if I have no other books to read.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Legends of Muirwood Series by Jeff Wheeler
Okay, so let me start with that I am not always a big fan of male authors. In fact, most of the time I find them "wordy". However, I found myself reading this series and forgetting that it was a male author that wrote it. (Take that as a compliment if you wish, Mr. Wheeler.) I'm going to comment on the entire series (a set of 3 books) because we all know I like to read a whole series in a row and asking me to wait to finish a series is just a bummer!
For our younger readers, no worries! There is minimal if any foul language, no sex, and really the characters only hint at inappropriate dress, dancing, and behavior. In fact, they blush and shun those young ladies who dress immodestly!
Surprisingly, the romantic storyline of this series is great. Usually male authors tend to underwrite the romantic plot and I find it frustrating but he does a great job of making you want Lia and Colvin to find happiness with one another. Colvin is a bit infuriating at times but isn't it that way with most men....heehee!
Lia is a great main character. She is a bit mischievous; she thirsts to know more, be smarter, to be able to read. She wants to step above her circumstances and be better. I love that about her. She is also pretty fearless. She has moments of doubt but she really relies on faith to get through situations.
And that is the crux of this series....faith. This series (particularly books 2 and 3) calls is "Medium" but it can only be described in real life as faith or belief, this series leans heavily on symbolism and religion is just symbolized EVERYWHERE! I don't have a problem with that. I totally get it and enjoyed it. Sometimes I found it to be a little too deep or profound but at that point I was so addicted to seeing where he took the story that I fumbled through the parts that were too deep for me and kept going.
I recommend these books to someone who loves reading. If you are looking for a quick, light read that you can finish in a day, this is NOT that book. This is a book/series that will require a bit more effort and make you think. I did find myself losing sleep to avoid putting it down though. I like to finish a book in a day or two. This series of 3 took me a week. But again, I enjoyed it. I have read two books from another series of Jeff Wheeler's and have enjoyed them. I'm in the process of rereading them to prepare for the release of book 3. I will read more of his books. They are clean books with great story lines, some action, and just enough teasing romances to make me enjoy them.
I'm going to include the descriptions of the books from amazon below:
The Wretched of Muirwood, book 1:
In the ancient and mystical land of Muirwood, Lia has known only a life of servitude. Labeled a “wretched,” an outcast unwanted and unworthy of respect, Lia is forbidden to realize her dream to read or write. All but doomed, her days are spent toiling away as a kitchen slave under the charge of the Aldermaston, the Abbey’s watchful overseer. But when an injured squire named Colvin is abandoned at the kitchen’s doorstep, an opportunity arises. The nefarious Sheriff Almaguer soon starts a manhunt for Colvin, and Lia conspires to hide Colvin and change her fate. In the midst of a land torn by a treacherous war between a ruthless king and a rebel army, Lia finds herself on an ominous journey that will push her to wonder if her own hidden magic is enough to set things right.
The Blight of Muirwood, Book 2:
In The Blight of Muirwood, the second book in the Muirwood Trilogy, Lia finds herself filled with inner turmoil after the great battle of Winterrowd that led to the death of the wicked king and her closest ally. Despite her reservations, Lia is called to be an official protector of Muirwood Abbey and is charged to employ her magic to defend Ellowyn Demont, the lost heir of the fallen kingdom of Pry-Ree. Her duties are put to the test when the Queen Dowager arrives in Muirwood accusing the Aldermaston, the abbey’s overseer, for the king’s death. Amidst the turmoil, battle ensues, and Lia learns of a terrible plague that threatens to cover the land in darkness and death. Atop it all, the magic of the world begins to fail. In a quest to undo the devastation, Lia’s path brings her to a startling revelation that will change her life forever.
The Scourge of Muirwood, Book 3:
For our younger readers, no worries! There is minimal if any foul language, no sex, and really the characters only hint at inappropriate dress, dancing, and behavior. In fact, they blush and shun those young ladies who dress immodestly!
Surprisingly, the romantic storyline of this series is great. Usually male authors tend to underwrite the romantic plot and I find it frustrating but he does a great job of making you want Lia and Colvin to find happiness with one another. Colvin is a bit infuriating at times but isn't it that way with most men....heehee!
Lia is a great main character. She is a bit mischievous; she thirsts to know more, be smarter, to be able to read. She wants to step above her circumstances and be better. I love that about her. She is also pretty fearless. She has moments of doubt but she really relies on faith to get through situations.
And that is the crux of this series....faith. This series (particularly books 2 and 3) calls is "Medium" but it can only be described in real life as faith or belief, this series leans heavily on symbolism and religion is just symbolized EVERYWHERE! I don't have a problem with that. I totally get it and enjoyed it. Sometimes I found it to be a little too deep or profound but at that point I was so addicted to seeing where he took the story that I fumbled through the parts that were too deep for me and kept going.
I recommend these books to someone who loves reading. If you are looking for a quick, light read that you can finish in a day, this is NOT that book. This is a book/series that will require a bit more effort and make you think. I did find myself losing sleep to avoid putting it down though. I like to finish a book in a day or two. This series of 3 took me a week. But again, I enjoyed it. I have read two books from another series of Jeff Wheeler's and have enjoyed them. I'm in the process of rereading them to prepare for the release of book 3. I will read more of his books. They are clean books with great story lines, some action, and just enough teasing romances to make me enjoy them.
I'm going to include the descriptions of the books from amazon below:
The Wretched of Muirwood, book 1:
In the ancient and mystical land of Muirwood, Lia has known only a life of servitude. Labeled a “wretched,” an outcast unwanted and unworthy of respect, Lia is forbidden to realize her dream to read or write. All but doomed, her days are spent toiling away as a kitchen slave under the charge of the Aldermaston, the Abbey’s watchful overseer. But when an injured squire named Colvin is abandoned at the kitchen’s doorstep, an opportunity arises. The nefarious Sheriff Almaguer soon starts a manhunt for Colvin, and Lia conspires to hide Colvin and change her fate. In the midst of a land torn by a treacherous war between a ruthless king and a rebel army, Lia finds herself on an ominous journey that will push her to wonder if her own hidden magic is enough to set things right.
The Blight of Muirwood, Book 2:
In The Blight of Muirwood, the second book in the Muirwood Trilogy, Lia finds herself filled with inner turmoil after the great battle of Winterrowd that led to the death of the wicked king and her closest ally. Despite her reservations, Lia is called to be an official protector of Muirwood Abbey and is charged to employ her magic to defend Ellowyn Demont, the lost heir of the fallen kingdom of Pry-Ree. Her duties are put to the test when the Queen Dowager arrives in Muirwood accusing the Aldermaston, the abbey’s overseer, for the king’s death. Amidst the turmoil, battle ensues, and Lia learns of a terrible plague that threatens to cover the land in darkness and death. Atop it all, the magic of the world begins to fail. In a quest to undo the devastation, Lia’s path brings her to a startling revelation that will change her life forever.
The Scourge of Muirwood, Book 3:
When a deadly plague is unleashed in the
land of Muirwood, the fate of the world is placed in the hands of a
young woman named Lia. Charged to be a magical protector, Lia volunteers
to be sent on a desperate quest to rescue the squire Colvin, her love,
and his pupil Ellowyn Demont, the alleged heir to the fallen kingdom of
Pry-Ree. Still recovering from the injuries of her last adventures, Lia
sets off across land and sea warning the kingdom of the oncoming plague.
The journey leads her to Dochte Abbey, where her friends are supposedly
held. Instead, though, a fallen enemy lies in wait for her, as well as
an unbearable new truth. The revelation will force Lia to choose between
the lives of her closest friends and her deepest desires…
Fantastically epic and at all times engaging, The Scourge of Muirwood is a monumental finish to the Muirwood Trilogy.
Fantastically epic and at all times engaging, The Scourge of Muirwood is a monumental finish to the Muirwood Trilogy.
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