Everealm: Book One of the Everealm Series by J. D. Wright

Everealm: Book One of the Everealm Series by J.D. Wright
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am unsure of how I feel about this book. The beginning was great; we are given the background of Bree and Rowan, which is necessary. But then, I don't know, something gets lost. At times I felt that I was reading a young teen novel - the situations are never dire, the characters are practically insta-loving all over the place and problems almost solve themselves. However, the intimate scenes were definitely X-rated and not for young teen eyes.

The characters were very interesting and likable. The villain(s) were extremely evil and scary. I wish she had done a little more world-building, though. The realm sounds amazing but we really only get glimpses as to what it's like.

The ending is too conveniently wrapped up, although it leaves an opening for a sequel. Overall, a decent attempt and will probably read book 2.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.)

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A Timeless Romance Anthology: Sarah M. Eden British Isles Collection

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Sarah M. Eden British Isles Collection by Sarah M. Eden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This timeless anthology has six wonderfully sweet stories by Sarah M. Eden. The stories are set in different places around the British Isles and Eden captures the charm of each culture beautifully. All the tales were written with that culture in mind so speech style and phrases are pleasantly done.

Three take place in England, two in Ireland and one in Scotland. Eden's short narratives range from cute to brilliant, realistic to slightly fanciful, sad to funny and each was a joy to read.

Eden's character building and world building were marvelous. I look forward to reading more of Sarah M. Eden in the future.

(I received this book in exchange for a review.)

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Palpitations by S.K. Mundt

Palpitations by S.K. Munt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first zombie apocalypse book I've read. It was fantastic! The characters are great and very real. The situations are extremely realistic. The characters are not treated with kid gloves; people die and they die gruesomely. There's no time for remorse or grief - it's all about survival here. The infection/spreading theory is reasonable and well-thought out.

I immensely enjoyed the story and hope there's a book 2 to follow the characters into their new reality.

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Infinity Chronicles - Part One

Infinity Chronicles - Part One by Sedona Venez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, what to say about this book. It started off very well – interesting characters, realistic plot. But then somewhere in the middle, it starts to get muddled. So much begins to happen and the details are confusing. Once talk starts about councils and the hierarchy, I was lost. I kinda skipped over those parts and just tried to enjoy the actual events.

Then something even crazier begins to emerge. I totally get the idea of 'mates' – that one person/soul that are MEANT to be with forever. I get it. I can even understand maybe having two potential mates but when the idea is planted that Infinity has 3+, well, I sort of was a little annoyed by that whole thing. Makes me think the rest of the series will be one guy after another throwing themselves at her because, 'Hey! We're mates!'

(view spoiler)[Also the idea that her friends “died” but she can save them. It's almost like we have to make it dark, but we don't want anyone to get upset so let's have them come back somehow. (hide spoiler)]

Even with all this, I did love Infinity and actually want to know what happens next so yes, I will read Infinity Chronicles – Part Two.

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Wonderful young teen novel - The Seventh Crow

The Seventh Crow by Sherry D. Ramsey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(Free copy from NetGalley in exchange for review)

This book was fabulous! A great book for tweens to young teens.

If you have/are a YA reader looking for heavy romance or dark events, this is not the book for them/you. It was very light. There are dangers, but you never feel that the characters are threatened beyond hope. It's perfect for readers that are looking for fun and adventure without all the seriousness of adult issues. I have a feeling, though, that the next book could contain much more complicated scenarios.

It gets started right away and you're just as confounded as Rosinda. Everything she discovers, you discover right with her. The cast of characters is varied and interesting. Rosinda sets off on a monumental adventure to save her kidnapped aunt on the advice of a pair of talking animals - a crow and a cat. She's joined by her neighbor, whom she barely knows, and meets up with a wolf who can speak to her mentally. It's outlandish and wonderful! To top it off, she has gods conspiring against her!

The world-building of Ysterad is fantastic. The descriptions of the scenery and folk who live there are phenomenal. At one point I was wishing it was a real place to visit and meet all the fascinating people who live there.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Sherry D. Ramsey.

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A Timeless Anthology: Under the Mistletoe Collection

Under the Mistletoe Collection by Cindy Roland Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a delightful, quick read. Each of the 6 stories was sweet and loving. There were stories of new love and stories of renewal. The authors all have a similar style of writing so it was an easy transition from tale to tale.

Forgotten Kisses by Cindy Roland Anderson – A sweet story of love being reacquainted.

The Last Christmas by Annette Lyons – A very real, close-to-home hitting story of finding what was lost.

Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon – Another charming story that makes you wish to read more of their adventures together.

Holiday Bucket List by Sarah M. Eden – A hilarious story about finding love right in front of you.

Christmas Every Day by Heather B Moore – Although, I didn't care for the abrupt ending, it's a nice story about finding love when you least expect it.

First (and Last) Christmas Date by Jennifer Griffith – Cute and funny story about a 10-year-old misunderstanding.

Overall, it was a well spent day reading this compilation before Christmas.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.)


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The Deadly Trilogy by Ashley Stoyanoff

Deadly Trilogy by Ashley Stoyanoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I just finished this series and let me tell you, I COULD NOT put it down. Stoyanoff's Deadly Trilogy is a well-written, YA trilogy. It follows high schooler Jade Shaw, as she comes to terms with the truth surrounding herself and her family.

The Deadly Crush, The Deadly Mates and The Deadly Pack are the 3 novels of the The Deadly Trilogy. All the main characters are introduced in the first book and feature throughout the series. Jade, Marcy, Dominic and oh...oh, Aidan. You find yourself rooting for Aidan even though there's so much mystery surrounding him. Jade is a strong, capable heroine. She's stubborn but has a way about her that makes you root for her while you want to punch her at the same time.

It is fast-paced and full of questions that keep you engaged. There are quite a few surprises that you aren't expecting. Every time I thought I could put the book (actually, my phone) down, something would happen to keep me glued.

The one thing I didn't like was the way books 1 and 2 ended awfully abruptly. They concluded at a very strange part of the story which made me believe that Stoyanoff wrote the story in whole and then broke it up into 3 separate novels. Luckily, since I was reading the trilogy, I was able to just start right into the next books.

Overall, a very fast and enjoyable read. I highly recommend these books and will look into Stoyanoff's other novels for more delicious reading.

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Do your kids Irish Dance?

Well, mine do. And regional championships are over Thanksgiving weekend. I have not been able to sit and read for a bit now, let alone write reviews so I'm a little behind. Please bear with me while I try to survive long drives and big hair for the next 10 days! Happy Thanksgiving!

Jane Blond, International Spy by Brianna Stan Schott

Jane Blond International Spy by Brianna Schatt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(free copy for honest review)

This is a great story for young teen girls or YA who aren't looking for all the romance. (Wait, what? There are girls out there like that?! Pfffff!)

Jane Blond. Yeah, she's heard all the jokes. Big deal. She's more worried about making the cheerleading team, coping with her mom's boyfriend and sneaking to visit her dad in prison. But maybe there's something to her name when she starts dealing with the FBI regarding some strange things happening around town.

I was impressed when I learned Jane Blond was written by a high schooler. It's a short, fun read with an intriguing plot. It's sophisticated enough to not be predictable.

I love how Schott uses unconventional characters that help Jane solve the case. No super cute, nice, outgoing hunk to help Jane along. Nope, it's mostly a solo operation with a nudge here and there from a friend.

Overall, a wonderful jump up for middle schoolers who want a little more in their mysteries.


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Okay...this one is SOOOOO me.

(also from pintrest - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155092780890548949/)

Oh Daemon.

So I found this on pintrest and I clicked on it so many times, I'm still confused as to where it originally is from but It's so freaking true that I had to repost.

Keri Arthur's new series City of Light (Outcast #1)

City of Light by Keri Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review)

This dystopian novel had me hooked from the start. It has a very intricate plot that you must pay attention to be able to follow. It weaves and entwines secrets and machinations like none I've seen. And the cliffhanger? OMG! I am very happy to see that the sequel has a name (Winter Halo) with a publishing date of November 2016! No year wait for me!

Tiger is a déchet. The last of her kind. A new breed of human/animal/other made by humans to fight the shifters and vampires in the last war. Surving in an underground bunker long abandoned after the war, she comes to the surface only for food. Saving a child and her shifter-uncle from the vampires one night while out for food changes her life forever. She now needs to sift through the lies and half-truths to find 13 children and uncover the conspiracy before it's too late.

This is a dark story filled with many surprises. Arthur incorporates many different varieties of paranormal beings – shifters, vampires, ghosts, seerers, witches...it makes for a very entertaining read. It kept me up at night and made me, basically, useless to my family during the day.

I'm am very excited about Keri Arthur's new series! I hope it will not be a 'two and through' series of books. I can see myself wanting to see Tiger through a lot of fun adventures!

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Unhidden (The Gatekeeper #1) by Dina Given

Unhidden by Dina Given
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(free copy for review from NetGalley)

Emma Hayes can't remember anything from before her car accident 10 years ago. With no memory or family, she is thrown into a nightmarish foster home. After joining the military and subsequently leaving, she's made a name for herself as a mercenary. Now someone, or something, is after her and who she should trust is just as dangerous as what to believe.

Given did an amazing job in her debut novel Unhidden. Emma is a bad-ass female who is NOT invincible. She's also not a “hard-ass” either and has intense relationships with other characters. I love tough women main characters who are not afraid to show emotion and the author does a fine job with Emma.

Given also utilizes different types of creatures - mages, shifters, elves, etc. in the book. There are many characters in the tale that Given weaves, making each one of them significant to the plot.

The story flows well and you discover things as Emma does, which helps you feel all the same emotions simultaneously; and there are a great deal of emotions in play here. Frustration, disbelief, confusion, heartbreak just to name a few. And just when you think you can put the book down for the night, Given throws in a “SURPRISE!” and there's no way you're going to stop reading after THAT!

Overall, an entertaining read and an author I will be watching closely. Looking forward to the sequel.

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Gavin Frankle's The First Man

The First Man by Gavin Frankle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

(free copy in exchange for review from NetGalley)

Everything you've been told about the creation of the world – Eden, the first man and woman, etc – is wrong. This is the real story told by Adam himself.

Frankle's version of the Beginning is intriguing, yet it fails to keep the reader interested. It is depressing and, frankly, kind of a bore. Adam talks to himself. A lot. A whole hell of a lot. If you don't pay attention, though, you will miss some important stuff. That's the hard part, paying attention. I found myself skimming the parts were Adam just talks and talks and talks...and talks. Which is a little funny because the book is actually a quick read.

I think Frankle could have done a great job with it. The concept is striking and it is clear that he is extremely talented. Adam has every right to be angry and depressed. However, his ranting is on the level of being childish and his loathing of humans obnoxious.

I think Frankle needs to tone down all the nonessential words and throw in a bit more action if he needs to make the book longer. Lighten up a bit on the human-hating and it's a great read.

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Information Overload

I've read 7 books in 7 days. My brain can't seem to put a coherent thought together. Please bear with me while I process all the data! Thanks!

The Reaper's Daughter - KM Randall

The Reaper's Daughter by K.M. Randall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(free copy for review)

Blake lives with her single father and loves her life with her handsome boyfriend. But that all changes when tragedy strikes and she discovers she's the daughter of the Grim Reaper. Thrust into a world she doesn't know or want, Blake must come to terms with her loss and her new responsibilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish. It has strong characters and world-building. Blake is a very strong female character without being a “bad-ass”. I love how she doesn't give in to her mother or her budding new relationship with Rishi quickly. She doesn't embrace her new life and, in fact, fights it until the end.

There are heart-wrenching scenes that had me bawling like a baby, actually, multiple times. It was sweet and funny. Nothing in this book seems forced or contrived. It has a well-developed plot and it flows as though Randall didn't come up with the story as she wrote.

There's a great jumping off point for the sequel and the ending doesn't leave you throwing the book against the wall because you have to wait for book two. Overall, it was a fantastic start to a new series from new author K. M. Randall, and I look forward to continuing on with Blake, Rishi and company in the (hopefully!) near future.

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Sigh.

From http://books-are-my-life18.tumblr.com/

Crystallum by Laney McMann

Crystallum by Laney McMann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(ARC for review from NetGalley)

Crystallum is one of those CAN NOT PUT DOWN novels that gets you all excited. Every time I thought I could read to the end of the chapter and finally close my eyes to sleep for the night, McMann would throw in a surprise that made me say “aaawwww heeellll nooo” and I'd have to continue reading on into the wee hours of the morn.

Kadence Sparrow is different and she's known this since she was 5. She knows that she'll have to give into the demon who hunts her eventually, but until then, she wants to try to be a normal 17 year-old girl. Then she meets Cole Spires and she wonders if maybe she's find where she's supposed to be after all.

It was a little hard to get into at first. McMann jumps right into the story and uses quite a few Latin words (that I needed to look up) that had me wondering what everything meant. After a few chapters, however, things start to be explained and the confusion starts to clear up. It then proceeds to suck you into a seemingly never-ending vortex of secrets and surprises.

The chemistry between Kade and Cole is intense. All the characters (major and minor) are important to the story and there is no extra fluff added to try to fill in the space between critical events. The story moves at a steady pace and keeps you hanging on until the end.

The ending has a nice little cliffhanger. Not so bad as to make you want to bang your head against the wall wondering how it's possible to live until the next book comes out, but just enough to say “Oh yeah! I'll be watching for this next book release!”

Applause to you, Laney McMann, on the beginnings of a stimulating, new series!

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Last book in the Iron Fey series - The Iron Knight

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was all Ash. And although I adore him, like, to pieces, the reason I love Kagawa's books is because of the chemistry between ALL the characters. There was no Meghan in this story and to me, Meghan is what makes Ash lovable.

I definitely appreciated the journey he had to take and the tests he endured to get to Meghan, I just couldn't believe it was able to made into a whole novel. There were a few surprises that I loved and a loose end or two that was tied up, but overall it could have been a novella for me. It also lead into her next series that I have not decided if I should read or not.

I think it was an okay end to the Iron Fey series, I suppose. I'm just feeling a little bereft because I was hoping for more closure.


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Kate Unmasked (Code of Silence, #1) by Cindy M. Hogan

Kate Unmasked by Cindy M. Hogan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(free copy for review)

I am more of a fantasy/paranormal kind of girl, but I do branch out and love a good mystery now and again. I have been reading fantasy/paranormal for months straight now so I had forgotten that Kate Unmasked was NOT a fantasy story, just a YA story. NO problem there! This book was great!

Kate has always wondered who her birth parents were, but her adopted parents were always very vague. When a day of spring cleaning uncovers secrets her parents have been keeping, Kate determines she will find answers her own way.

There are so many twists and turns that will keep you up reading this novel. You won't want to put it down. Every character is well-developed. The world-building is impressive, bringing lots of insight into worlds that are not commonly visited. I think any reader would be surprised with the developments to the story.

The ending nicely wraps up the immediate loose ends of book 1, while leaving a few unanswered questions to start book 2. I will be impatiently watching for the sequel, Kate Concealed.

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Jennifer Stewart Griffith's Pandora (Goddesses and Geeks #1)

Pandora by Jennifer Stewart Griffith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(free copy in return for honest review)

I finished this book quite a few days ago and I am still unsure of how I feel about it. It was not a waste of time, but I felt (and still feel) a little empty from it. Like, it was unfinished or hollow.

The basic story line is great – Congressman Blake Wells takes a much needed vacation from his re-election campaign. While in Bermuda, he falls instantly for a woman, Cressida, and determines he will risk everything to keep her. Little does he know, she's really Pandora, and those risks maybe be too great, even for him.

See, it's an intriguing theme. So, it starts off well enough. Wells is a likable character, as are his staff. But as soon as he meets Cressida, he instantly becomes annoying. His obsession is ridiculous and disturbing. Cressida, on the other hand, never really becomes a real character. Maybe it's because the whole story is told from Blake's POV, but we never get to see a deeper side of Cressida. She's very shallow, with no intensity.

The adventure they go on to save Cressida, is exciting and well thought out. It wraps up quite nicely and the solution is not so easy as to make you roll your eyes. The author does have a talent with words and world-building. I think a little more time developing characters would have made the story much more enjoyable.

Overall, I did enjoy reading the book and will be interested to read the next in the series.

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Castle of Sighs - Jennifer Murgia

Castle of Sighs by Jennifer Murgia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(free copy from netgalley in exchange for honest review)

A perfectly creepy story to read the week before Halloween. This witchy, ghostly tale properly chilled me from start to finish.

Rune is trying to find her place in an empty, unfamiliar castle with Laurentz, her love. She finds that her, Laurentz and the two children she's vowed to protect are not the only ones residing there.

I have only one complaint – a few chapters in I started to wonder if I was missing something, so I did a little research and discovered that Castle of Sighs is book two in the Forest of Whispers series. There was no indication of a previous book on netgalley or in the title pages of the book. Though I was still able to appreciate the novel without reading Forest of Whispers (book one), I think I would have enjoyed the story more, and felt more connected to the characters, if I had read it. I gave the Castle of Sighs 4 stars because of this.

Overall, Murgia is a gifted writer and I will definitely look up her other novels.

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Winter Wolf (A New Dawn Novel) by Rachel M. Raithby

Winter Wolf by Rachel M. Raithby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(free copy from netgalley for honest review)

Katalina's 18th birthday starts as a happy one and ends in tragedy. This is the story of Kat coming to terms with that tragedy and the realization that she is not all that she seems.

I really loved this story. Kat's struggle with her new identity is authentic. It doesn't feel forced or contrived to make the tale interesting. Along with the struggle are the emotions of dealing with a horrible accident that changes her whole life. I love that she doesn't get over it and embrace everything after a month or two. She goes through denial, anger and depression, just as she should. On top of that, she is astounded by her strong feelings for a boy she's just met and who becomes the only thing that is keeping her sane.

Raithby did such a fantastic job conveying the passion and despair that Katalina experiences. I cried and rejoiced with Kat. I felt her anger and frustration. I was completely engrossed in the story; I couldn't pull myself away.

There wasn't a cliffhanger ending. It could be a one-off novel or the beginning of a new series. This story enchanted me and I look forward to reading more of Rachel Raithby.

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Sydney Whyte's Gift of the Blood God: Drawn (Faelings Doom Book 1)

Gift of the Blood God: Drawn by Sydney Whyte
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not too sure what to make of this one. The base storyline seems to be well thought out – twins, Lorrie and Melory, suffer a car accident and are thrown into an entirely new world together. It appears their arrival was predetermined and they have a destiny to fulfill.

The writing style was something to get used to. It seemed that as soon as I thought I had the hang of it, somehow, I would be confused again. I had to reread paragraphs/pages to fully understand what was going on.

Whyte never stops to explain the differences between Mavishan and Tishan. Are they enemies? Are they from separate countries/territories? Are the differences physical or just cultural? Then she casually mentions Cerwi a couple times, also with no explanation. If the story was told only from Lorrie and/or Melory's point of view, it would be understandable that they don't know the differences. However, the POV changes frequently. Couple that with the different writing style and the details are getting lost, I think.

The premise of the story, though, is very interesting. Whyte did not let the twins off easy in the new world. I was also happy to see that communications between the twins and captors weren't magical either. A lot of thought was put into this plot and it shows through out.

Hopefully in book 2, Whyte can somehow put in a little world-building regarding the characters. Even so, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the sequel.

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Noir (The Illumination Paradox #2)

Noir by Jacqueline Garlick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So here I am, a few days after finishing Jacqueline Garlick's Noir, and I am still banging my head against the wall. How could she do this to me! I can't wait for book 3! This is going to be absolute torture.

Noir is Jacqueline Garlick's 2nd book in The Illumination Paradox series. It starts right where Lumiere left off - Eyelet is charged with breaking her love, Urlick, out of prison and finding the cure to her sickness.

Garlick's incredible fantasy world is completely unique and wondrous. Her words weave an exciting tale from start to finish. People die, are tortured, left in asylums. There are many setbacks and lots of heartbreaking moments. And then, after all that, she leaves you with the unbelievable cliffhanger.

The book is told from multiple points of view. I love that when C.L. (Crazy Legs) tells the story, he keeps his cockney accent in the reading.

Garlick's characters are one of a kind and extraordinary. She is able to take unusual people and make them phenomenal. Urlick is not your typical hero. He has physical “defects” but he has a heart of gold. He possesses a brilliant mind that he uses to build amazing machines and daring plans. His friends are as individual as he is, especially when he meets up with the freak show.

Garlick's pulls out all the stops in her story. It's never dragging or boring. It never lulls and never fails to make your heart beat faster. I love reading this series! I almost threw my phone across the room when I read the last page. UGH!!!

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A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Hallow's Eve

A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Hallow's Eve by Sarah M. Eden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
(Received free copy in exchange for honest review)

A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Hallow's Eve is a compilation of short, sweet novellas that have a touch of ghostly aura about them. Each of the six authors in the collection are extremely talented. The writing styles are similar so the stories flow nicely from one to the next.

The first 3 stories are historical romances that take place between 1800 and 1860. The last 3 are contemporary romances that are present day.

Of course, as with any compilation, there will be stories you like, and others not so much. I can honestly say that, while there were a couple I loved, I really liked all 6 stories. There were all types of love stories – first loves, reunions, lost loves. There is a story for everyone.

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Queen of the Deep by Kay Kenyon

Queen of the Deep by Kay Kenyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(Received this book for free from NetGalley)

Kay Kenyon's Queen of the Deep follows aspiring actress Jane Gray through a doorway to a fantastical realm.

This story starts off nice and easy, but quickly starts to feel like we've been invited to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Jane is thrown into a entirely new world full of intrigue and back-stabbing. It's not confusing as in 'hard to grasp'; it's more like 'who can she trust?'. Who's lying? Who's on her side? Can she trust anyone? She's not sure and neither are you, from start to almost the bitter end.

Kenyon's Palazzo world is extremely well-thought out. She has wonderful world and character-building and keeps you engrossed from the first page. The ending nicely wraps up the whole book, but also leaves it open for Kenyon to devise more adventures for Jane if she so chooses.

Overall, a fun, marvelous read and I will definitely check out more novels from Kenyon!

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Lumière (The Illumination Paradox #1) Jacqueline Garlick

Lumière by Jacqueline Garlick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Received a free copy for review from NetGalley.
****
Lumiere is a steam-punk, alternate reality adventure.

At the turn of the century, Eyelet Ellsworth is looking for her father's invention that she believes will save the Commonwealth, if not the world. On the way she meets a cast of interesting characters, one being an unusual love interest, Urlick Babbit.

Garlick's imagination is one of a kind. Her inventions and world-building are ingenious and the cast of characters unique, and actually quite refreshing.

I could not put the book down once I got past the first couple chapters. At first, I was wondering if it was a totally different planet they lived on but after a bit, I realized it was just an alternate Earth.

I was on edge the entire book. It was non-stop adventure from start to finish. At times I was actually scared, like, for real. Like I was reading a horror story at times.

Garlick provides amazing imagery in this book, with an action-packed story line that makes me excited to jump right into book 2.

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S.K. Munt's The Given Garden

The Given Garden by S.K. Munt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Larkin and Kohen have been friends since they were 5. When they turn 13, their world changes forever. This is a story of how strong a young girl has to be to fulfill her dreams of freedom.

*********************************************************

I just finished this book and man, I'm speechless. I laughed, I cried, I snapped at my children for disturbing me while I read. I could not put it down and when I had to drive my kids around for 2 hours today, I was bitter, BITTER I tell you!

The caste system, the (what I would call) dystopian society...it was so deep, so heavy. It compeletely engrossed me for the 6 hours it took for me to read it.

Munt's world-building is intricate. At times it can be a bit much but it's obvious that she spent a tremendous amount of time creating her caste and belief system, the post-apocalyptic world and the history behind it all. Each character is complex. There are so many heartbreaking and incredibly sweet scenes.
And the cliffhanger...UGH! MUST HAVE BOOK TWO IMMEDIATELY.



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The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julie Kagawa does not disappoint in her 3rd installment of The Iron Fey series. The Iron Queen finds Ash and Meghan exiles in the mortal world, running from the Iron Fey.

Kagawa's fast pace adventure mirrors her previous Iron Fey novels. I could not put this book down. The love between Ash and Meghan is serious but never mushy or childish, while her relationship with Puck is sweet and strained. They are true reflections of real life relationships.

The identity of the false king surprised me. Most times, you can tell who it's going to be from the beginning of a book but I didn't realize it until Meghan did. Nothing seemed implausible or rushed. The ending was extremely heart-wrenching but Meghan remained strong through to the end and that's the most important thing to me.

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Opposition (Lux #5) - Series Finale

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another 5 star novel by Jennifer Armentrout. Opposition finds Katy and Daemon apart once again. This time Katy is with friends, but the future is more uncertain than ever before.

This series is one of my all-time favorites. This epic story shows no mercy from start to finish. People die. People you don't want to die, die. The invasion is like a true alien invasion probably would be – with death and destruction, chaos and catastrophe.

Once again, I had an underlying feeling of dread throughout the entire book. I was so afraid of what would happen to all my favorite people. I cried a couple times, laughed a whole lot and ultimately was satisfied with the ending. It did leave it open-ended for Armentrout to come back to the series if she ever feels compelled.

There's always a sadness that comes to finishing a series of novels. I definitely felt a little empty afterward, but a little relieved. I was able to breathe again; I was able to rejoin the real world and my real family...at least until the next series comes along.

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Jennifer Armentrout's Origin (Lux #4)

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another 5 star, unbelievable book from Jennifer Armentrout.


Origin picks up right where Opal left off, with Katy in the hands of the DOD and Daemon about to go all LiteBrite on someone to get her back.


This fast paced, never dull novel follows in the footsteps of her 3 previous books in this series. I love how she does not go back and reiterate what has happened in the previous books for those that haven't read them. A reader must start at Obsidian to enjoy this series.


Origin has the “I CAN'T PUT THIS DOWN” and the “NO! I CAN'T GO ON!” aspects I have come to expect from Armentrout. New characters are added, new discoveries are made! Nothing ever seems too contrived, though, even relationships. Love that Katy puts up a fight after being captured. So sick of characters that talk big but as soon as they face adverse circumstances, they give in after 5 min. And of course the ending! Why wouldn't it end with a WTF?! If I had read these books as they were released, I think I would have died from suspense.


Armentrout's Lux series is a well-thought out story. If she made it up as she went along, it does not show. It seems as though she wrote the story from start to finish and then broke it up into 5 separate novels. It flows seamlessly and rocks from start to finish.

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Ashamet, Desert Born

Ashamet, Desert Born by Terry Jackman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Terry Jackman's Ashamet, Desert Born has an exciting plot that gets buried under superfluous descriptions of clothing and rooms while barely detailing characters (besides very brief, and quite confusing, mentions in the first few pages) or the world they live in.

The reader gets a sense in the first chapter that there are a variety of races of men in the desert land but the characterization stops there. The different races are named and referred to throughout the book but never described for me to get a true sense of the differences (which seemed to be important). The first person narration of the novel, however, gave insight into Prince Ashamet's character, which was self-centered and apathetic. He also rambled on about the walls of rooms and what clothing everyone was wearing to a point of complete disinterest on my part. I started skimming paragraphs after about 1/3 into the book.

There is a huge absence of female influence throughout, which accounts for the the lack of variety and depth. It is a male-dominated world where females are only used for breeding. It was billed as having same-sex elements when actuality, it is essentially a same-sex romance novel.

The ending was satisfying and nice point to start a sequel. If Jackman can tone down the excessive descriptions and play up the more exciting plot, the sequel will be quite good!

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Coming soon! Review of Julie Kagawa's 3rd Iron Fey book and Jennifer Armentrout's final 2 books of the Lux Series

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Origin and Opposition by Jennifer Armentrout

Brand New Author - K A Parkinson's The Shadow Prison (The Ninth Chosen #1)

The Ninth Chosen by K.A. Parkinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Shadow Prison is a captivating story following two teens, Tolen and Macy, who are chosen by the Light to save humanity from the Dark. It starts off confusing and had me wondering if I missed a prologue, but Parkinson does a fantastic job of filling in all the gaps as the story progresses.

Parkinson definitely delivers a unique story. There were a lot of twists, suspenseful moments and chills to be had...quite a few times. It is highly fast-paced with imaginative world and character-building. The ending is a great stepping off point for the sequel.

(view spoiler)[The only “bad” thing to say about this book is that Tolen and Macy fell in love a little too fast and easy. I believe the story really only takes place within a month or so. Maybe their shared shards or their intertwined destinies have something to do with it, but it felt just a bit too rushed. If their journey had taken longer, say 3 months, it would have been more believable. (hide spoiler)]

This is CLEARLY a 5 (out of 5) star book. I am super stoked for book 2 (which I see is called Keeper of the Last...intriguing...) and I will certainly keep my eye on Parkinson for future books. She's an extremely talented author.

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Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book. I was so utterly disappointed with Heir of Fire (HOF) that I wanted redemption. Unfortunately, I was once again disappointed.

Queen of Shadows (QOS) picks up back in Ardalan. Aelin has to deal with what has happened to her friends and family while she was Wendlyn for months. Though she feels stronger and ready to take on the King of Ardalan (as well as her boss, the King of Assassins), she's about to learn that it will be harder than she thought.

It IS a better book than HOF but, also like HOF, could have been half the size. The best idea would have been to take half of HOF and half of QOS and make it book 3. BUT, that's what happens when you decide to make a trilogy into a 6-book-series when you're halfway through. Now the story has to be dragged out and fluff added to make the story last for 6 books. I mourn the idea of an action packed trilogy. (sniff, sniff)

Chaol was a bore. I understand why he was the way he was, but he was flat throughout the whole book. Such a sad way to for him to live when he was such a strong presence in the previous books. I praised the Lord above when Rowan showed up because up until that time, I was debating whether I should just stop reading. Overshadowing everyone though (even Celaena/Aelin) was Lysandra. I loved her! She is a tremendously wonderful add to the cast of characters and I can't wait to see what's in store for her in the next book.

If I could, I would give the book 5+ stars for the last 100 pages. They were reminiscent of TOG and COM. I was in Heaven! “YES!,” I cried, “THIS is what has been missing these past few years!” I hope she can continue what the last 100 pages were like into the final 2 books.

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Opal (Lux #3) - Jennifer Armentrout

OH this book. OH! OH! OH! Jennifer! What are you trying to do to me?! I've already neglected my family for days because I couldn't get this book out of my head! But now, NOW you have to end it like THAT!? AAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!

I was SO into this book until about halfway through. It wasn't that I wasn't into it anymore, it's just that I knew something was coming. I just FELT it and the dread, the absolute DREAD of reaching that point, getting to the end, made me keep putting the book down to delay the inevitable.

But oh, OH what an ending. THE FEELS!

This series is one of a kind. I honestly and truly love the characters. I CARE about them! Even Ash and Andrew! Not too many other books have made me laugh as hard or cry as much. If you have not read this series, YOU MUST! I am devouring these books!

Renaissance Faire by Jane Stain

Renaissance Faire is a time-traveling romance centering on college graduate Emily and Scotsman, Dall MacGregor.

It starts off very promising with a great plot and the potential for strong, likable characters but falls short of actually following through. Reading this book was like reading through the first draft. A thesaurus would have been extremely beneficial to Stain because words were repeated over and over and nothing was ever elaborated on. Everything just jumped from one thing to the next with no explanation. There wasn't much character building and you never got a true sense of what the characters were really like. Heck, you never even got a physical description of them!

Dall and Emily fall in "love" way too quickly to be authentic.  Also unbelievable is how fast Emily thinks of, and accepts, the reason for Dall's behavior as time travel.  I mean, usually when someone is acting strange it's because he IS strange. Here, though, it's obviously because he's a time traveler. The druids are quite mysterious. The added secrecy makes the story interesting but, once again, is never really explained. The use of technology is a clever concept but, SURPRISE!, there's never more information to make it credible.

I do have to say, though, that the story could have been great.  If Stain could rewrite/revise the book as if it were a rough draft, I think it could be a hit novel.

Compedium by Aria Luria

We'll start at the beginning with the first review I ever wrote (which was just a few months ago for Goodreads).  I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.  I actually, overall, really liked the book and eagerly await the sequel.  However, I did give it only 3 out of 5 stars. 

Hopefully, I'll get better at this writing thing.  Practice makes better, right?

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I spent the first 10 chapters wondering if I skipped some pages because things weren't very clear. The chapters bounced back and forth between the two story lines making it feel disjointed. I think if Luria would have written Melia's story and then introduced Mia, it would have flowed much better and not felt like information was missing.

Lumin is a wondrous planet. I wished, however, she had spent more time with the description details. At times, some of the relationships felt rushed but, overall, very strong and likable characters.

The story picks up immensely around chapter 11/12. It reels you in quickly and deeply, making you not want to put the book down. I would give the book 5 stars based on chapters 12 and up. However, the rough start really made it hard for me to keep reading. I'm glad I did, though, and can't wait for the next book.