Books and Things

Throwback Thursday: Silver Borne

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission:

Silver Borne
Mercy Thompson #5
by Patricia Briggs

Being a mechanic is hard work. Mercy Thompson, for instance, just spent the last couple of months trying to evade the murderous queen of the local vampire seethe. And now the leader of the werewolf pack, who's maybe-more-than-just-a-friend, has asked for her help. A book of fae secrets has come to light and they're all about to find out how implacable - and dangerous - the fae can be.

OK, so maybe her troubles have nothing to do with the job. But she sure could use a holiday...

Okay, I got this one because it was a harback for only $3! I still need to get and read Iron Kissed and Bone Crossed. Yes, I'm very behind but have more motivation to get going on the series.

So any you bought because you couldn't refuse a good sale? :)

Winter Queen (Fairy Queens #1) by Amber Argyle

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

First in a series: Fairy Queens
254p.
Publisher: Starling Publishing
Available Now
Source: ebook from author for review

~Becoming a winter queen will make Ilyenna as cold and cruel and deadly as winter itself, but it might be the only way to save her people from a war they have no hope of winning.~

Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.

Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.

With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever.

This reads more like a fantasy in the way the world is built. Not the kind of fantasy where too much information is thrown at you, but in the way the world is lushly built. You follow Ilyenna who has just become the female aspect leader of her clan. Her job is to rule over the home and hearth and lead her people if the men have to go off to war. There is a political and war-like move within the clans and Ilyenna finds herself dying. She is saved by the fae, but there is a price to pay. The question becomes is if she will pay it by the time winter rules the earth again?

This fantasy was very gripping in terms of the adventure of Ilyeanna doing her best protecting her clan. She is kind and loving and is willing to sacrifice herself for others. I did like her character and found that many of the other women characters were quite strong as she was, but I didn't care for the lamentations that they were "only" women. It was understandable because of their society, but I would have loved it more if they just concentrated and celebrated their strengths as women a bit more. Their actions proved that they were strong.

My only other complaint for this fantasy was the ending... and yet I enjoyed it at the same time. The ending was a bit contrived and a bit too easy. Still, I enjoyed it because it gave me an HEA and a solid ending. No cliffies here! I think this is a good introduction to this world and I'm curious where the story goes next. I give this book 4 stars and recommend it to those that love an older YA (there is mention of rape and sex, but nothing graphic) fantasy.

The Fallen Prince (Keepers of Life #2) by Shea Berkley

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Second book in Keepers of Life series
330p.
Publisher: Entangled
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher

There is a magical realm that exists alongside the human realm, but it wasn’t always so. The firsts are beings who were created to nurture the land. The world was split into two realms, and the firsts were allowed to redeem themselves. Sadly, the majority continued with their self-indulgent behavior to the point where one of their own, a king, became so obsessed with power, he was secretly banished by the court in hopes his absence would calm the masses. But a spark of madness was ignited and not even the lost king's absence could curtail what he set in motion.

I loved the first book, The Marked Son, which I read 2 years ago. So, it is safe to say it took me a while to catch back up with the book. I felt a bit lost, but I think if I had reread the first book I wouldn't have had as much trouble. It's a complicated world, so I think I would have felt more at home quicker within the story.

I also felt a bit frustrated with what was happening in the beginning of the book. Their journey throughout the human realm in the first of the book makes sense and you know it is foundation necessary for the growth of the characters. Still, I think I would have liked this part perhaps a bit shorter or perhaps a bit more mixed with the characters of the fae realm.

The second half of the book is where the most exciting adventure begins. You are back in faerie trying to save people without getting yourself killed. You know, the usual fare. ;) Still, you question the motives of several of the fae and learn that others are surprisingly trustworthy. I do like the characterization of many of the secondary characters as well as the main protag, Dylan. However, I found Kera a bit disjointed. There was a reason for this, but I would have liked to have felt that there was something consistent in the background and I just didn't feel that. I still liked her character, though.

I give this book 3 stars and I really recommend rereading the first book if you read it a while ago. If you haven't read that first book, then do so before you read this one. It really does need to be read in order.

Guest Review: When Hell Came to Texas by Robert Vaughn

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

384p.
Available Now
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: From publisher for review

DEVIL IN DISGUISE?

In the days after the Civil War, a solitary rider travelled the open frontier—but he wasn’t alone, for Death seemed to travel with him. Or maybe it was the Devil himself who gave him the lethal pistol shot that earned him the name “Death’s Acolyte.” And when the stranger with the scarred face, who calls himself Ken Casey, rode into the peaceful Texas town of Wardell, maybe peace—for his own ravaged soul—was all he wanted. But in Wardell, all hell is about to break loose.

OR SAVIOR ON HORSEBACK?

Awaiting a train shipment of gold, Angus Pugh and his army of outlaws, including notorious gunslinger Luke Draco, take the town hostage and kill a few innocent citizens as a lesson to any comers. Donning priestly vestments, Ken Casey, ordained man of the cloth, steps from the shadows to conduct the victims’ funeral rites—and that’s just his first revelation. For Casey can destroy souls as easily as he saves them, and earthly justice is delivered in gun smoke and blood.

Bloggy note:

I thought for Father's day I would, instead of giving my dad a day off, ask him to do a review. I got this western and I thought it was perfect for him. So... here is his review... short and sweet!

Dad's thoughts:

The book was easy to read as the sentences and words flowed naturally. The author did a good job of weaving the story to explain how the main character could be so diverse. He was very well educated, not rich and was a natural leader having been put in many difficult situations beginning in early life. He developed into a religious man and then a killer and once again because of difficult issues. All in all, the book was quite well written for enjoyable, easy and interesting entertainment.

Thanks dad! :)

Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

The winner for:

Carl S.!

(confirmed)

You can still enter for Spartan Frost in a post by me at Candace's blog! Just click on the pic below to go to the post!

The giveaway is open until the 21st. ebook so it's international. :)

Ink Blog Tour and Amanda Sun Blog Post

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

When I was in high school, I lived in Osaka on exchange. It was the Monday after I’d arrived, and my host sister, her friend and I were making the trek to her university—train, then bus, then walking uphill on steep streets. To pass the time, my host sister’s friend asked me, “What are you most looking forward to seeing in Japan?”

Keep in mind that, like Katie in INK, my Japanese was limited. I’d studied like crazy before arriving, but the forms of Japanese I’d learned had been so polite they were barely applicable to the casual speech of my friends and family. My strategy was to answer using words I knew, instead of struggling and flipping through my dictionary for every word.

What was I most looking forward to? I thought about the temples and shrines, the castle and the zen rock gardens. I didn’t know any of those words, so I tried to simplify. The old buildings? Yes, that was something I knew how to say.

So I opened my mouth and said, “furui biru.” Old buildings. EXCEPT. Because of my bad pronunciation with vowel lengths, and the strangeness of the words I’d strung together, it came out as sounding like “furii biiru.” Free beer.

MORTIFYING.

You should’ve seen the look on my friends’ faces. But we all had a good laugh after, and I never made a mistake with long vowels again. At least, not one anyone’s burst out laughing about.

Writing INK was a challenge because I knew so well the language limitations that faced Katie. At the same time, how could I write a novel where no one could speak to each other? Katie needed to be able to have complicated conversations with Tomohiro and other characters. She needed to attend a Japanese school and take notes. So how could she accomplish all this with the language barrier?

First, I had Katie take a Japanese class in SHADOW before she arrived in Japan. Secondly, I added Japanese phrases to simulate how it felt for Katie, as well as to help capture the sound of what she was hearing. As the reader picks them up, so does Katie. Thirdly, I had some of the characters, like Yuki, speak quite good English and help Katie along.

And a couple times, Diane says to her, “Give it four or five months.” I met many exchange students in Japan, and they all agreed that after a few months, it was easy to speak to friends and family. INK takes place from March until July, so Katie gets more fluent as time goes on.

And here’s a behind-the-scenes secret. Katie has an unnatural aptitude for learning Japanese. But why? You’ll have to read to find out.

I hope you enjoy INK, and learn some Japanese as you follow Katie through her experiences in Japan. O-tanoshimi ni! Hope you look forward to it. ^_^

Ink (Paper Gods #1)
by Amanda Sun

"I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine."

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they’ll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

The Paper Gods series by Amanda Sun is coming!

Ink (The Paper Gods 1): Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books-A-Million

Shadow (novella prequel to Ink): Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

About Amanda Sun - website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

I’m a YA author and proud Nerdfighter. I was born in Deep River, Canada, a very small town without traffic lights or buses, and where stranger safety is comprised of what to do if you see a bear—or skunk. I started reading fantasy novels at 4 and writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. Hopefully my work’s improved since then.

In university I took English, Linguistics, and Asian History, before settling into Archaeology, because I loved learning about the cultures and stories of ancient people. Of course, I didn’t actually become an archaeologist—I have an intense fear of spiders. I prefer unearthing fascinating stories in the safety of my living room.

The Paper Gods is inspired by my time living in Osaka and travelling throughout Japan. That and watching far too many J-Dramas. I currently live in Toronto with my husband and daughter. When I’m not writing, I’m devouring YA books, knitting nerdy things like Companion Cubes and Triforce mitts, and making elaborate cosplays for anime cons.

Giveaway!

There are 2 giveaways sponsored by Kismet Tours!

The first giveaway is to win one of 9 copies of the book!

The second (and Grand Prize) is an authentic Japanese Yukata (like the dress shown)!

Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Monday, May 27th ‚Supernatural Snark

Wednesday, May 29th ‚Page Turners

Friday, May 31st ‚ Reading Angel

Monday, June 3rd ‚ Alice Marvels

Wednesday, June 5th ‚ Chapter by Chapter

Friday, June 7th ‚ YA‚ As the Word by Katja

Monday, June 10th ‚ Bewitched Bookworms

Wednesday, June 12th ‚ Oh Chrys!

Friday, June 14th ‚ Books and Things

INK tour page: INK tour page

Throwback Thursday: The Raven Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

The Raven Boys
The Raven Cycle #1
by Maggie Stiefvater
Narrator: Will Patton
Audio: 11 hours

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shivertrilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

I've been wanting to read this one for a while now. Guess what??? I got it for free and you can too this week! SQUEE! Just go HERE to SYNC to snag your audio copy of the book. This week only (until Wed of next week). There is also no restriction for international... so everyone can get a copy.

Also bloggy note: There will be a blogtour post here tomorrow that has a giveaway by the tour.

I'll also be at Candace's Book Blog with a giveaway of my own. See ya in both places manaña!

Note: Nope, I'm not affiliated in any way with SYNC or the publisher or the author... just like freebies and telling ya about them. :D

Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

standalone
405p.
Publisher: Harper
Available Now
Source: ARC from publisher for review

Neglected by her parents, nineteen-year-old Maya Nidal grows up in a rambling old house in Berkeley with her grandparents. Her grandmother, Nidia, affectionately known as Nini, is a force of nature--a woman whose formidable strength helped her build a new life after emigrating from Chile in 1973. Popo, Maya's grandfather, is an African American astronomer and professor--a gentle man whose solid, comforting presence helps calm the turbulence of Maya's adolescence.

When Popo dies of cancer, Maya goes completely off the rails. With her girlfriends Maya turns to drugs, alcohol, and petty crime, eventually bottoming out in Las Vegas. Lost in a dangerous underworld, she is caught in the crosshairs of warring forces--a gang of assassins, the police, the FBI, and Interpol. Her one chance for survival is Nini, who helps her escape to a -remote island off the coast of Chile. Here Maya tries to make sense of the past, unravels mysterious truths about life and her family, and embarks on her greatest adventure: the journey into her own soul.

This book is written as if you were reading her notebook. Almost as if you were listening to Maya telling her story as you sat with her drinking tea on the island she has been banished. She goes back and forth from what happened in the past and what was happening in the present as you might while in a deep conversation. As the reader you are gaining her trust and she slowly opens up to you and you find out what has brought her to the island. In other words, what choices she made to bring her to exile.

As she explores her new circumstances her life, which was spinning out of control, gains some silence and peace. Through this peace she finally starts to find out what is important to her and starts to heal from the death of her Popo, her grandfather who was her world. She finds that she is finally able to let go of the past slowly and how freeing it is by speaking of it out loud. She truly finds peace.

There is also a mystery and danger that you only really find out toward the end of the book. So, it is not just an exploration of Maya and her family and friends, but also a bit of adventure twisted in the end. Although not all ills are solved by the end of the book, but the danger does come to a conclusion. With that conclusion comes hope for a future in Maya's life.

I give this book 4 stars. Even though it has a young teen as the main protagonist, I would not say this is YA but adult. The themes in the book are quite dark and the violence is graphic. I recommend it to those that like a contemporary book with historical aspects about Chilé running in the background.

Bloggy note:

Isabel Allende had the students at San Jose State University animation dept. make videos. Here is the one of them. The rest are HERE.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Ratings

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday, a meme started by CambriaHebert, but now hosted on Rainy Day Ramblings. It is a chance to get to know your fellow bloggers by sharing fun stuff, discussions and more. Grab the question and post your answer on your blog and link up at Rainy Day Ramblings! Have fun!

This weeks question:

“Let’s talk ratings, what rating scale do you use? How do you feel about reviewers that give out the high ratings on a regular basis?"

I use the 5 star scale (listed on the left column). I use the 5 star scale because it seemed like the most universal system and fits with other places I post reviews (like goodreads).

As far as reviewers that give out high ratings, it doesn't bother me. Perhaps it is just because they love reading so much. Perhaps it is because they hate to give low ratings. It doesn't bother me because it is their choice. I don't really know bloggers like that off the top of my head. The ones I follow seem to have a good eye and a critical mind for the books they read.

Besides... aren't these scales really arbitrary anyway?

Still, I admit I do tend to stay in the 3-4 star range. Often if the book is flawed but still entertains and I enjoyed it, I don't usually give it a lower rating than a 3. That still is inline with what I list on the side there. I also admit to taking away 1/2 a star for cliffie endings. I really hate those and feel in most cases are totally unnecessary. If the book is good I'll read the next one without the cliffie! I also don't give 1 star ratings lately because I don't usually get through those with the volume of books that I have and so it often ends up as a DNF.

So, what about you? What do you think about ratings?

Rush (The Game #1) by Eve Silver

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

1st in a series
352p.
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Available 6/11/13
Source: ARC won from the author

"So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?"

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

This was a fast paced and at times frustrating book. The frustration is shared with the main character Miki so it is intentional, but still getting some answers about the world she is pulled into, but not getting all the necessary information can be maddening. Because it was intentional it didn't bother me to the extreme, but I have so many questions I can't wait to get answered.

In this world certain kids are pulled into a game-like world in which points are scored in what you do and how many of the evil aliens you can kill. No explanation, no forewarning, no way to prepare, you are just thrown into the game and hope that you learn as you go. You have a health meter to determine if you survive. Family and friends left behind have no idea what is going on due to a suspension and manipulation of time. I have to give the author total props for this part of the book. Time is a hard concept to tweak for a book and make it believable and I think she did a good job of doing that. Yes, you could argue the science, but I felt the explanation was well reasoned for suspension of belief.

The reason they get pulled into the game is both reasonable and not. This is where I want more explanation. I also have problems with the kids having no choice and little in their control, but control is a theme of this book so, again, this was intentional. Still, you wanted to kick the people in charge in the arse for that one. :)

I give this book 3 stars. I warn you about the ending. It has one horrible cliffie!! I am curious about where the series will take us and I'm hoping for more information about the game world and I would also love to see Miki kick some committee arse!

Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

The winner for:

is...

Shelly H.!

(confirmed)

Don't forget there is still time to enter for:

Click pic to go to sponsored post. US/CAN only.

Impostor (Variants #1) by Susanne Winnacker with Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

1st in a series
288p.
Available Now
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Media Masters Publicity for review

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

My thoughts:
This is a variation on the theme of kids finding out they have incredible powers and solving crimes. I usually love those kind of stories and this was no exception.

Tessa is a sensitive young girl who has had a life that was anything less than perfect. Rejected by her parents she finds a sort of home in the government program who identifies and then exploits their talents to solve federal crime, often those with other "variant" powers. Tessa is sent on a mission before she is mentally mature enough to handle the consequences, but decides that catching the killer is more important than her issues with posing as a dead girl. This is where I think the author shines. She does not shy away from Tessa's sensitivity but embraces it and shows how vulnerable this can make her. How this would affect someone who hasn't yet fully developed their own personality first.

As for the rest of it... what happens... you'll just have to read it to find out. *evil laugh*

I do have one niggle that bothered me from a sci-fi POV: How did she absorb scars and environmental "defects" when absorbing the DNA for the shift to another person? This wasn't addressed and I'm quite curious to the explanation. Perhaps I will get it as the series progresses. I hope so!

I give this book 4 stars. I think the mystery was done well, but what shined to me was the characterization. I liked the vulnerability of Tessa and the way she learned to do what was right for herself in the end. I'm so leery of her "handlers" and that is a great thread to have open for the next books in the series. Are the good guys really the good guys? ;) The main mystery is wrapped up so there are no cliffies, only threads that you would expect in a series that can go in several directions. Sign me up for that! :) I recommend it to those that enjoy a fun adventure reminiscent of the X-men.

Where to buy:

* Barnes and Noble

* Amazon

* Indiebound

Hopefully I have peaked your interest because:

Media Masters Publicity is offering this book as a giveaway! It's open to those that have US or Canada snail mail addys! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Throwback Thursday: Robin Hobb

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission:

Dragon Keeper
(The Rain Wild Chronicles #1)
by Robin Hobb

Too much time has passed since the powerful dragon Tintaglia helped the people of the Trader cities stave off an invasion of their enemies. The Traders have forgotten their promises, weary of the labor and expense of tending earthbound dragons who were hatched weak and deformed by a river turned toxic. If neglected, the creatures will rampage--or die--so it is decreed that they must move farther upriver toward Kelsingra, the mythical homeland whose location is locked deep within the dragons' uncertain ancestral memories.

Thymara, an unschooled forest girl, and Alise, wife of an unloving and wealthy Trader, are among the disparate group entrusted with escorting the dragons to their new home. And on an extraordinary odyssey with no promise of return, many lessons will be learned--as dragons and tenders alike experience hardships, betrayals . . . and joys beyond their wildest imaginings.

Dragon Haven
(The Rain Wild Chronicles #2)
by Robin Hobb

Centuries had passed since dragons last roamed the war-torn world of the Rain Wild River. But as peace once again settled upon the land, a lost generation of sea serpents--ancient, half-starved, and weary--returned to cocoon, certain that they would be reborn as the beautiful and powerful dragons of legend. But their arduous journey exacted a heavy toll, and the proud serpents emerged as sickly, half-formed beasts, unable to fly or hunt . . . or thrive. For years now they have been trapped on a swampy riverbank between forest and river, hungry and barely alive, reliant on humans to provide for them.

With their survival at stake, fifteen dragons--among them the wise golden Mercor, the haughty and dazzling silver-blue queen Sintara, and the delicate copper beauty Relpda--have set off on a dangerous trek into the unknown, up the Rain Wild River, in hopes of rediscovering the ancient Elderling city of Kelsingra, the lost haven for dragons and Elderlings alike. The dragons are accompanied by a disparate group of human keepers, rejects from Rain Wild society. They, too, yearn to find Kelsingra and create a home of their own, one in which they may make their own rules and decide their own fate. But is Kelsingra real or merely a fragment of a glorified past buried deep in the dragons' shared memories? No map exists to guide them, and the noble creatures find their ancient recollections of little use in a land changed by generations of flooding and seismic chaos.

As the dragons, the humans--including the strong and defiant Rain Wild girl Thymara; the wealthy dragon scholar and Trader's wife, Alise; and her companion, the urbane Sedric--and their magical supply barge, captained by the gruff Leftrin, forge their way ever deeper into uncharted wilderness, human and beast alike discover they are changing in mysterious and dangerous ways. While the bonds between them solidify, starvation, flashfloods, and predators will imperil them all. But dragons and humans soon learn that the most savage threats come from within their own company . . . and not all of them may survive.

I won both of these in HC but just haven't had the time to pick them up.

Any fantasy or dragon reads on your shelf waiting to be read?

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

1st in a series
464 p.
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Available Now
Source: eARC from NetGalley and the publisher for review

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of Xseries, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

This is going to be a hard review. This book is filled with mystery, the paranormal, fights, political intrigue and even magic. However, what it has little of is plot. Because of that the other aspects of the book often seemed to get muddled and although not confusing, but not clear either. At the same time I kept reading having to know more about this world and the secrets our characters were either keeping or had to find out about themselves.

What was unusual about this book was the world building and character building. In this book it reigned supreme. It was well done and well written, but I can see a lot of people become either anxious or even bored with some aspects of this drawn out build. I do enjoy a good world building so I was able to be captivated by what was presented. It was a world turned upside down and tried to get rid of vices and what some deemed as "dangerous". As with anything that is taken to extremes, zealots reign on both sides of the equation. What you try to get rid of you just create in another fashion. It was an interesting take.

In the end I give this book 3 stars. The writing was wonderful, but I did get frustrated at times wanting the grand mystery supporting the characters solved (it does in the end... no cliffies). Plus, now that the world is established I'm looking forward to the second book in this series. I believe this series has the potential to blow me away. I do recommend this book to those that enjoy a good world building and a unique take on mythology and excellent writing.

When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears (Goblin Wars #3) by Kersten Hamilton

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

3rd in a trilogy
400p.
Publisher: Clarion Books
Available: Aug 6th, 2013 (they changed the date on me!)
Source: eARC from the author and NetGalley

“People will die.”

Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.

Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life... and by blood she is one of them now.

Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain...

... before it is too late.

I love the first two in this trilogy, Tyger Tyger and In the Forests of the Night. In the last book that follows the Blake poem, Teagan is determined to save her loved ones as well as Meg Mell. Her connection to everything fae has been enhanced and she has embraced both sides of herself.

Now for my problem... how do I talk about this book and not spoil it for those that haven't yet read the other two? That is always a problem for a book you enjoy.

What I will say is this: I felt that this was the best of the 3 for me. I think what I loved was Teagan's growth throughout the series. Often when you get that, you see a character slip back as if they never had epiphanies or any growth at all. You do not find that here. Sure Teagan makes mistakes, but they don't seem to be repeated and she learns to trust herself. Also the characters were stellar. I have loved her little brother throughout the series and he captures my heart again in this book. I also love the other secondary characters and we get a bit more of the ones we met in the last two books. Also with the other books, I think the research was stellar. The way the poems were woven into the story, the names, mythologies all harken back to the old stories and tales. It's just something I really enjoyed.

My biggest complaint? This is the last book! Perhaps a Abby and Jing book? A book of Aiden when he is all grown up? Seriously... I don't want to give these characters up! Guess I'll have to be satisfied with rereading the stories again. *sigh*

I give this book 5 stars. I really enjoyed my time in Meg Mell and I don't want to leave. I recommend it to YA and faerie book lovers.

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Standalone
448 p.
Available now
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: eARC from NetGalley and the publisher

"I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk."

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

I said it before and I'll say it some more... I hate to cry. Still, I picked up this book knowing that I'll probably need a tissue or two. You take 2 broken people, mix in a huge vat of horrible things that happen outside of their control, add in peers who don't understand, add a helping of not being able to see those that do care, and add a dash of loneliness. Unfortunately, even that recipe does not come up with the brilliance of this book. Yes, you can safely say I loved it.

When I first started the book, I admit I was confused. The book just dives into the lives and it almost felt as if you should know what was going on. I am no stranger to reading in the middle of the series, but I knew this was a standalone from the beginning. I actually stopped and did a double check to make sure I was correct and it was a standalone.

After that was sorted, I understood why it started that way. Nastya, is determined to not allow anyone to learn of her past, so you are thrown into the mix as much as our main characters have been thrown. What I loved about Nastya's story is that we do not get to know what happened to her for much of the book. I thought this was brilliant. Often we want to know what happened as if then we can determine how broken she is... a thing we cannot possibly determine with such little information. However, by withholding the exact details of her assault (the only thing we do know), we truly figure out how broken she has become. We are left with the raw emotions like anger and fear to deal with. Contrasted with our hero, Josh who we know everything that has happened to him and yet the author also finds a way to help us understand his brokenness. You knew that these two would come together. This story is how they come together and hopefully find the road back to themselves.

My only complaint with the book has to be the jumps. It does jump from Nastya's POV to Josh's POV, but that isn't a problem at all. All those jumps are marked and they have distinct voices. The jumps I'm referring to have to do with either actual location and/or time. One minute they are in school, the next at home, or suddenly it's next week. I think these transitions just need to be worked on a bit.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I really loved this book and I recommend it to those that love a story where two broken people come together, not to "fix" each other, but to find a way to "fix" themselves with the support of the other.

Targets of Revenge Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Fri, 31 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Mother's day is over... Memorial day is just past... so what about Father's day?

Oh how about a thriller???

Simon and Schuster is allowing me to give away the latest book from Jeffery S. Steven's series: Jordon Sandor. I've read them all so far and have really enjoyed them (my review of this book). You can read this book as a standalone so no worries for those that haven't read the others. It's a good thriller for anyone who loves to read those kind of books!

Targets of Revenge
by Jeffrey S. Stephens

COUNTRY FIRST. All the bureaucratic scolding in Washington cannot stop resourceful CIA Agent Jordan Sandor when he’s hungry for revenge. This time he’s on the hunt for the cold-blooded sociopath known as Adina, whose indiscriminate slaughter of innocent people, including Sandor’s close friend, represents man at his worst.

Mobilizing a team of skilled and dedicated agents to carry out his secret operation, Sandor flies in the face of his superiors’ stern warnings—ultimately crash-landing in the heart of the Venezuelan jungle. Armed with little more than a combat knife and a deadly automatic weapon, he infiltrates Adina’s camp and discovers that the ruthless terrorist is smuggling not only cocaine into the United States, but also a deadly substance that could cost tens of thousands of lives.

Sandor develops intel that leads him to Egypt and then Moscow as he fights to prevent this disaster, but after he lands on Interpol’s list of international fugitives, the truth becomes clear: Adina’s evil web extends to the far corners of the globe. Meanwhile, someone Sandor trusts could very well be feeding the agent dangerous lies as he struggles to stay on Adina’s trail.

More focused than ever, Sandor refuses to end his perilous mission, even after he has been taken captive. In the end, when he uncovers the realities of Adina’s deranged plan for a catastrophic assault on New York City, Sandor has no choice but to risk his life to protect his country’s safety and freedom.

How to enter?

Just fill out the rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Throwback Thursday: Halfway Hexed

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Thu, 30 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission:

Halfway Hexed
(Southern Witch #3)
by Kimberly Frost

First, there are the local residents who form a scripture-spouting posse and kidnap Tammy to "defend" Duvall, Texas, against witchcraft. Next, someone saddles her with a secret package chock full of dangerous visions, just as the president of WAM-the World Association of Magic- arrives with his entourage to investigate her. And who worse to examine Tammy's entanglement with off-limits and drop-dead gorgeous wizard Bryn Lyons than his ex-girlfriend? Not to mention that the clash between the locals and the magical visitors leads to a series of unnatural disasters that may doom them all.

While the fate of the town hangs in the balance, one thing's certain: this would-be witch is ready to rumble, Texas style.

I won this book and have been told that I can read it as a standalone. However, after meeting the author, I do think that I will want the whole series. So, I'm waiting to get the first two (even by the library) and I do think I'll read them in order. Don't faint! :D

So any witchy tales on your tbr?

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Wed, 29 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Standalone
384 p. HC
Touchtone Publishing
Available today
Source: Goodreads First Reads and Publisher for review

Thirteen-year-old Emily Houchens doesn’t have many friends. She finds more comfort playing make-believe in the woods near her house in Roma, Kentucky, than with her classmates, who find her strange and awkward. When she happens upon a dead body hidden in the woods one day, she decides not to tell anyone about her discovery—a choice that begins to haunt her.

Susanna Mitchell has always been a good girl, the dutiful daughter and wife. While her older sister Ronnie trolled bars for men and often drove home at sunrise, Susanna kept a neat house, a respectable job, a young daughter. But when Ronnie goes missing, and Susanna realizes that she’s the only person in Roma who truly cares about her sister’s fate, she starts to question her quiet life and its value.

The Next Time You See Me is the story of how one woman’s disappearance exposes the ambitions, prejudices, and anxieties of a small southern town and its residents, who are all connected, sometimes in unexpected ways. Emily; Susannah; Tony, a failed baseball star-turned-detective, aspiring to be the county’s first black sheriff; and Wyatt, a fifty-five-year-old factory worker tormented by a past he can’t change and by a love he doesn’t think he deserves. Their stories converge in a violent climax that reveals not just the mystery of what happened to Ronnie but all of their secret selves.

My thoughts:
I really expected this to be more of a YA murder mystery or even an adult mystery. I wasn't completely wrong, but I wasn't completely correct either. It really is more of a soap opera of characters within a small town where the mystery of a murdered woman has happened. You follow several characters, but how the chapters are laid out you aren't lost nor mistake one character for another.

Within these character studies you would expect a variety of characters, hopefully colorful. Unfortunately, to me, they seemed as if they were all the same character with only the background or the circumstances altered a bit. They all seemed to be petty and selfish and looking to blame someone else for their current life circumstances. Even the children seemed to be on that same page. Perhaps this was deliberate and it actually felt that way. Because of that, it didn't bother me, and it felt as though it was exploring a humanistic theme from different angles.

I think where the book really shines is in the exploration of the murder mystery. It is the catalyst for the characters as well as the plot that draws them to the reader. It has no real twists but ironically that becomes a twist in itself. We often look for those twists that when we aren't presented with one, it becomes new.

I give this book 3 stars. While I do like the murder mystery, I just couldn't bring myself to really get involved with the group of characters. You can feel sympathy for them, but they felt too shallow, too selfish and they needed to have a bit more depth to their unexamined life for me to really connect to them. Still, it was an interesting whodunit and I recommend it for that.

The Girl with the Iron Touch (Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Tue, 28 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

3rd in a series
384 p.
Available today
Source: eARC from NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for review

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

My thoughts:
I have to admit I was very excited for this book. Emily is one of my favorite secondary characters and so I was happy that she got her own book. That may have ended up coloring my enjoyment of the book. Expectations were just too high. Sometimes you just have to temper that so you can sit back and just enjoy the book.

While I did enjoy the book, I felt a bit let down and felt like Emily was the not the star of the book. While we got quite a bit of her character and her spunkyness, it just felt like something was missing. It felt like the other characters were just competing too much for the spotlight. While I enjoy Finley and Griffin's romance, it actually felt like it got in the way of the action. We had to continually stop and deal with their feelings for each other rather than dealing with Emily's story. I would have just enjoyed it in a book that featured them much better.

I was very happy to have my fave anti-hero back. Jack Dandy was back in his full cocky attitude. Now if a book features him I'll have to really reign myself in in terms of expectations because I enjoy his character so much and really want to know more about this mysterious character. He complimented things well in this story.

Even though I had a few problems with this story I still did enjoy it. I enjoyed seeing Emily come into her own and getting a little more of a glimpse into her character. I give this book 3 stars and am curious where the series will take me next. Hopefully it will have more Jack Dandy and Wildcat. :)

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Mon, 27 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Second in a series
462 p.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
TBP: 5/28/13
Source: eARC from NetGalley and publisher for review

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

My thoughts:

As many of you know I don't read contemporary YA. I read the first book, Pushing the Limits and just loved that book. The world read very real to me and I was surprised that many people criticized it for not feeling real. As someone who has had friends in the system as well as working with kids in the system for a short time, I can tell you it did feel real to me. Still, as much as I loved that book, I admit I worried that I would not love this one as much. Thought maybe it would suffer from second book syndrome.

Oh but I did love this book! I even loved the fact that it took me a little more than half the book to even like Ryan and Scott. I felt that they had potential, but didn't like the way they treated Beth. Ryan had to prove himself to me and Beth which he does with flying colors. Scott had to stop paving that road to hell and really listen and express himself to Beth. Both had to stop forcing Beth into a mold she either didn't fit into or wasn't ready to try out. Both finally won me over. However, I don't want to say to much more or I'll end up spoiling so much of the book. I figure letting you in on the HEA wasn't a problem since I knew there would be one before I even picked up this book.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. Ms. McGarry has found a fan in me and is one author I wouldn't hesitate to read any of her contemporary YA books. I can't wait for Isaiah's story which is next.

Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Sun, 26 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

The winner for:

is...

Diane E.!

(confirmed)

Congrats!

Deep Down (Wide Open #2) by Deborah Coates

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

2nd in trilogy
304p.
Publisher: Tor Books
Available now
Source: Provided by Tor for review

Death stalks the haunted, windswept prairie in this chilling sequel to Wide Open

Now that she's solved her sister's murder, Hallie Michaels has left the army and isn't sure what to do next. Her relationship with deputy Boyd Davies is tentative, there's still distance between her and her father, and she needs a job. The good news is, she hasn't seen a ghost in weeks.

All that changes when she gets a call asking her to help an elderly neighbor who is being stalked by black dogs, creatures from the underworld that are harbingers of death. When a black dog appears, Hallie learns, a reaper is sure to follow. And if the dark visions she's suddenly receiving are any indication, it looks like the reaper is now following her.

Meanwhile, strange events herald the arrival of ghosts from Boyd's past, ghosts the young deputy isn't ready to face. Refusing Hallie's help, Boyd takes off to deal with the problem on his own, only to find that he's facing something much larger and more frightening than he'd imagined.

Stalked by a reaper and plagued by dark visions, Hallie finds she must face her fears and travel into Death's own realm to save those she most loves.

My thoughts:
After reading Wide Open I luckily had Deep Down ready and waiting for me to pick it up. While I do think you may be able to read this book without reading the first book, I wouldn't recommend it. You would miss to much character and story wise. Plus, there is only one more book in this trilogy so I would't miss that first book.

While the first book relied a bit more heavily on mystery than the paranormal, this one seemed to be the opposite. There was still plenty of mystery, but the paranormal reigns in this book. Not only there are ghosts, but reapers and harbingers in the form of black dogs. Now while I wouldn't want to specifically meet a harbinger, I did like one of the dogs that befriended Hallie in this book. Him, I would like to meet as long as it wasn't his "job" to meet me. :)

I have to say that I think I enjoyed this book more than the first. Now that the main characters are established the rest of the story just flowed better. I can't wait to see where this series takes us next in the last book. In fact, I have to know. As the main mystery and adventure is fully wrapped up, there is a question that is left floating. I hope that the answers are there as I need to know exactly what her decision was in the end. I suspect it will be the theme of the last book. You are left with that thread wide open (maybe that should have been the title for this book! LOL).

I give this book 4 1/2 stars and I recommend it to those that love a good paranormal adventure! Isn't that last book out yet? Not that I'm impatient or anything... :D

Throwback Thursday: Crimson Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

This weeks submission:

Crimson Moon
Crimson Trilogy #1
by Jamie Saare
available now

Trueblood vampires. Those set apart from commons by right of blood. Graced with extraordinary abilities, they are the most powerful and feared among their kind. The secret lies within, a legacy evolving from the truest form of magic, and their living bloodlines are the key.

An average morning is what Emma Johnson anticipates when she visits Joe's Cafe for a steaming cup of coffee. Her life is routine, each day as uneventful as the one before, until she’s attacked by a mob of bloodthirsty creatures and is informed she is the daughter of a powerful vampire -- a vampire who wants her delivered safely to his home.

Her rescuer isn’t what he seems either: a werewolf procured to protect the royal vampiric bloodlines. Despite an unexpected and surreal turn of events, she can’t prevent her fascination with the Caleb, or the way she reacts to his nearness. Drawn to a man who isn’t entirely human, her world is turned upside down.

When she is forced to choose between the man she knows and the man who’s sent for her, she has to make a life changing decision -- vampire or wolf?

I have been wanting to get into this trilogy for a while now. Going to make time for it soon! :)

I had to make this one a submission this week since it is currently on sale for $.99!!

I also have to tell you why it's on sale...

Jamie is a wonderful supporter of pit bulls. You know that I love the pups as well. She recently adopted a mistreated and sick pittie who unfortunately died shortly after his adoption. His last day was safe and with lots of love. Jamie is left with a few medical bills from the sweet pup and this is how she is raising the money. So not only do you get an awesomesauce book (I enjoy her writing) but you get it at a great price. Plus, now you have another reason to get it... to support a heart as big as hers!
Jaime's website

We tried to save a dog (Perseus) last month. Despite getting him medical attention, he passed way. Hence the CM sale. twitter.com/JASaare/status…
— Jaime(@JASaare) May 21, 2013

Ah... so any books on your tbr that the author's heart made you want to buy it immediately?

Wide Open (Wide Open #1) by Deborah Coates

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa (Books and Things)) — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

1st in a trilogy
304 p.
Published: Tor Books
Available now
source: Provided by Tor for review

When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days' compassionate leave, her sister Dell's ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her.

The sheriff says that Dell's death was suicide, but Hallie doesn't believe it. Something happened or Dell's ghost wouldn't still be hanging around. Friends and family, mourning Dell's loss, think Hallie's letting her grief interfere with her judgment.

The one person who seems willing to listen is the deputy sheriff, Boyd Davies, who shows up everywhere and helps when he doesn't have to.

As Hallie asks more questions, she attracts new ghosts, women who disappeared without a trace. Soon, someone's trying to beat her up, burn down her father's ranch, and stop her investigation.

Hallie's going to need Boyd, her friends, and all the ghosts she can find to defeat an enemy who has an unimaginable ancient power at his command.

My Thoughts:
Hallie is coming home from Afganistan for an unwelcome leave. Her sister died and now she has to deal with all the consequences that come from that. Oh, and not too long ago Hallie, herself, died and now can see ghosts. Knowing that her sister wouldn't commit suicide she starts to find evidence to support that theory and the threats she starts to receive confirms it. Now how does she deal with a family tragedy and find the killer before her leave runs out?

The murder mystery, how it was done was very engaging and kept my interest. In fact, I had a hard time putting the book down because I wanted more information, wanted to know what, why and how. You are not left wanting after the end and everything is wrapped up and you are satisfied. It is a good beginning book to this trilogy. Hallie is also a good protagonist and was a sympathetic character despite the fact that she holds everyone at arm's distance. You really rooted for her throughout the story.

My biggest criticism was the way she handled some of the investigation. She would get "clues" and then not follow through with people who possibly had that information. Still, even with this niggle of mine, the way she came to her conclusions did work for me. I also didn't love the way some of the characters interacted with one another. It didn't often feel organic and I also think that led to me not seeing the "bad" guy as not being such a scary person as he was supposed to be. Still, these are really small criticisms and did not interfere with my enjoyment of the mystery.

I give this book 4 stars. It's an interesting murder mystery, paranormal book. I really recommend it to those that love a good mystery. The town is interesting and I look forward to the author fleshing out a few of those characters.

Books and Things

Throwback Thursday: Silver Borne

Winter Queen (Fairy Queens #1) by Amber Argyle

The Fallen Prince (Keepers of Life #2) by Shea Berkley

Guest Review: When Hell Came to Texas by Robert Vaughn

Winner!

Ink Blog Tour and Amanda Sun Blog Post

The Paper Gods series by Amanda Sun is coming!

Ink (The Paper Gods 1): Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books-A-Million Shadow (novella prequel to Ink): Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

About Amanda Sun - website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Throwback Thursday: The Raven Boys

Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Ratings

Rush (The Game #1) by Eve Silver

Winner!

Impostor (Variants #1) by Susanne Winnacker with Giveaway!

Throwback Thursday: Robin Hobb

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead

When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears (Goblin Wars #3) by Kersten Hamilton

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Targets of Revenge Giveaway!

Throwback Thursday: Halfway Hexed

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones

The Girl with the Iron Touch (Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

Winner!

Deep Down (Wide Open #2) by Deborah Coates

Throwback Thursday: Crimson Moon

Wide Open (Wide Open #1) by Deborah Coates

Ink (The Paper Gods 1): Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books-A-Million

Shadow (novella prequel to Ink): Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million