Bookworm Dreams

Monthly Rewind - January 2018

2018-02-01T15:24:00.000+01:00

So let's start with the most painful topic first.

Reading Mojo

Not the best. I would often fall asleep in the evening after a couple of pages. My usual enthusiasm about reading was missing. Maybe because I was reading a lot of last books in the series and I was in a yawn-lets-get-it-done mood.

Number of Books Read

In January I have read 9 books and missed my target by one. Goodreads challenge is mocking me that I am "1 book behind schedule". (How annoying. I hate this warning.)

That means that my target for February is 11 books (10 regular plus one from January). It will be tough, especially since February has less days then other months.

Genres of Books Read

Now the good news! For once I managed to keep up to my New Year Resolution to read more speculative fiction. In fact, I have read only books from that genre in January 2018. Maybe including In Death series is a bit of a stretch, but hey, it's set in a future.

Genres read in January 2018:

Fantasy: 3 books
Urban Fantasy: 2 books
In Death series (ligh-sf mystery ?): 2 books
Magical Realism: 1 book
Science Fiction: 1 book

Now let's keep it up in February!

Reading Stats

I read 3032 pages across 9 books.

Shortest book was Everything but the Squeal by John Scalzi (53 pages).

Longest books was Haunted Blade by J.C. Daniels (568 pages).

Average length of book read in January 2018 was: 337 pages.

My average rating for books in January 2018 was 4 stars. Not bad at all.

I discovered (or re-discovered since one was a re-read) two 5 star books in January 2018. One was short but funny novella by one of my favorite science fiction authors John Scalzi and other is one of my all-time-favorite-love-stories. Warm recommendations for both if you haven't read them.

Let's read more SFF! - 2018 Swords and Stars Reading Challenge

2018-01-22T14:05:00.001+01:00

You have already probably noticed that fantasy and science fiction are two of my favorite genres. As part of New Years resolution, I always declare I will read more SFF books next year. But then fail because pretty covers or popular books distract me.

So this year, I decided o make a commitment by making this declaration aka blog post. Plus I am joining the 2018 Swords and Stars Reading Challenge so that makes it official, right?

My favorite part about 2018 Swords and Stars Reading Challenge is that we have reading tasks. They are not too easy or too hard, just right.

✔ Read a book with Dragons in it ~ Nice Dragons Finish Last
✔ Read a book over 500 pages ~ The Outsider, 577 pages
✔ Read an SFF novella ~ Passing Strange
✔ Read a first book in a series ~ Captive Prince
✔ Read a Science Fiction classic ~ The Forever War
Read a Fantasy classic
✔ Read a book whose title matches the first letter of your last name ~ Magic Triumphs
✔ Read a book that has a weapon on the cover ~ Bring Me Their Hearts
✔ Read a book that has a Spaceship on the cover ~ Agent to the Stars
✔ Read a book that has been adapted ~ The Shape of Water
Read a book with time travel in it
✔ Read a book that has been on your TBR shelf for over 2 years ~ Knight's Shadow, on my TBR since 2014 (ouch)
Read a book whose cover has stars in it or whose title has any variation of the word star in it
✔ Read a book with magical realism in it ~ Lost Lake
Read an SFF graphic novel
✔ Read a Sequel ~ Into the Bright Unknown, sequel to the Gold Seer Trilogy
Read a diverse SFF book
Read a Random SFF book – your pick!
Read a fantasy book inspired by another story, fairytale, myth etc.
Read a book with a map

This bookworm is still dreaming...

2018-01-16T13:39:00.000+01:00

After some thinking I decided to revive this blog. Yeah, I could have made another one blog but:
a) I already got this one all set-up.
b) I am lazy.
c) All of the above.

What will be the content of this blog?

Keeping monthly statistics about my reading;
Joining some fun reading challenges;
Themed lists of books I plan to read (like on-going series or NetGalley review copes I STILL haven't read).

At least that's what I am planning for the beginning. We will see where it goes from there...

Book Review: Charming by Elliott James

2013-10-24T17:39:00.000+02:00

Charming

#1 in Pax Arcana series

by Elliott James

Age: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 390 pages
Published On: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Orbit
Source: NetGalley

♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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First Sentence: There's a reason that we refer to being in love as being enchanted.

Summary

John Charming isn't your average Prince...

He comes from a line of Charmings — an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chainmail and crossbows to kevlar and shotguns, he was one of the best. That is — until he became the abomination the Knights were sworn to hunt.

That was a lifetime ago. Now, he tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. One that shouldn't change just because a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar... Right?
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

When I hear the name Charming I always think about the prince in Disney version of Snow White or recently a character from tv show Once Upon a Time. But Elliott James pleasantly surprised me with his interpretation of the name and family legacy. And John, although not a prince, charmed his way into my heart as soon as he said:

"Popular young adult novels notwithstanding, vampires only sparkle when they burn."

Do not expect this novel to be overwhelmed with puns (after all there is only one Charley Davidson) but with his dry wit and sarcastic comments John Charming makes an excellent narrator. He does not make excuses or make you feel sorry for him. In a straightforward way John talks about his past and his current hunt for vampires. John's story may start with 'Once upon a time', but there is nothing fairy-tale-ish about it.

Although Charming is book with a male narrator and targeted for male urban fantasy fans, that does not mean that female readers will not enjoy it. There's even love story in the background if you can't live without a little bit of romance in your books.

As for me, for some unknown reason Charming didn't manage to pull me in. I enjoyed reading - it it was fun, sometimes intense and always interesting, but that connection that you make with your all-time-favorite reads didn't happen. Still, I am looking forward to the sequel and I hope Elliott James won't make us wait too long...

In The End...

If you are fan of urban fantasy and bored waiting for next The Dresden Files book, check out Charming by Elliott James. It has the same type of humor, a lot of action and paranormal creatures.

Similar Books:

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Book Review: Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon

2013-10-18T22:15:00.000+02:00

Zenn Scarlett

#1 in Zenn Scarlett series

by Christian Schoon

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction

Format: Ebook, 304 pages
Published On: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Source: NetGalley

♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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First Sentence: Wind clawed at the canvas tarp covering Zenn in the cargo bed of the ancient pickup truck.

Summary

Zenn Scarlett is a resourceful, determined 17-year-old girl working hard to make it through her novice year of exovet training. That means she's learning to care for alien creatures that are mostly large, generally dangerous and profoundly fascinating. Zenn's all-important end-of-term tests at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars are coming up, and, she's feeling confident of acing the exams. But when a series of inexplicable animal escapes and other disturbing events hit the school, Zenn finds herself being blamed for the problems. As if this isn't enough to deal with, her absent father has abruptly stopped communicating with her; Liam Tucker, a local towner boy, is acting unusually, annoyingly friendly; and, strangest of all: Zenn is worried she's started sharing the thoughts of the creatures around her. Which is impossible, of course. Nonetheless, she can't deny what she's feeling.

Now, with the help of Liam and Hamish, an eight-foot sentient insectoid also training at the clinic, Zenn must learn what's happened to her father, solve the mystery of who, if anyone, is sabotaging the cloister, and determine if she's actually sensing the consciousness of her alien patients... or just losing her mind. All without failing her novice year....
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

It's not a secret that I was looking forward to reading Zenn Scarlett. Colonization of other planets (especially Mars) is one of my favorite topics in science fiction novels. Add to that the fact that Christian Schoon kept teasing us in his comments and tweets by throwing out names of unusual animals featured in a book and you got one very excited bookworm (aka. me).

The amount of exotic animals did not disappoint me. There were rikkasets, crypto-plasmodial seepdemons, Greater Kiran sunkillers, yotes and many more. In fact, there were so many animals that sometimes I felt overwhelmed. New species kept appearing and I just could not picture how do they look like. And Christian Schoon does not rush his narration. Everything is slow, from worldbuilding to descriptions.

Through Zenn Scarlett's impatience there are some big lessons to be learned. When to be sure of yourself and when you need to take a break. And great view about aliens species and people's antipathy towards them. On a planet that is not your home world, who is really an alien?

A lot of things can be said about Zenn Scarlett. It's slow at the beginning and Zenn, main character, can be irritating with her mistakes and overconfidence. Still it's very original and if you're patient it pays of in the end because Zenn Scarlett is an intriguing start to a new series. I will be looking forward to the sequel Under Nameless Stars.

In The End...

If you like young adult science fiction novels with original plots, unusual animals and are patient reader who do not mind if story takes time to develop, then Zenn Scarlett is the book for you.

Favorite Quote

I try to have one quote featured in image for each book and although the quote on the pic above perfectly represent the book (in my opinion), it's not my favorite quote. The quote I liked the most was too long to fit. So I decided to share this little wisdom by Zenn's mother here:

"Sometimes, feeling afraid is how you know that you're doing something good and necessary. In fact, sometimes Zenn, doing the right thing is the scariest thing of all."

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Waiting On Wednesday: Defy by Sara B. Larson

2013-10-16T06:25:00.000+02:00

Each Wednesday, Jill from Breaking The Spine helps us share, discover and rave about books that we can't wait to read. And if you can't recognize the cover snippet above, the book I am waiting on this Wednesday is...

Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Goodreads ◊ Amazon ◊ Author's Blog

Summary:

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?
~ taken from Goodreads

Why Am I Waiting On Defy by Sara B. Larson?

YA Fantasy is my favorite young adult genre.
Girls masquerading as boys are one of my favorite plot elements.
Alexa sounds like my favorite type of heroine: kick-ass.
Because of all of the above I am willing to forgive the love triangle. After all there are always exceptions. Just remember how awesome Throne of Glass was.

So, those are my reasons why I am waiting on Defy. What are yours? Did you hear about Defy before? Will you read it? What are you waiting for?

Feel free to leave links in comments.

Book Review: Existence by Abbi Glines

2013-10-15T13:28:00.000+02:00

Existence

#1 in Existence Trilogy series

by Abbi Glines

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Format: Ebook, 161 pages
Published On: December 12, 2011
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Source: Purchased

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First Sentence: Don't look at him and he'll go away.

Summary

What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.

Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.

Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.

He is Death and he's about to break all the rules.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

While I read Existence I had a feeling that someone gave Abbi Glines a list of cliches that irritate me the most in young adult paranormal novels and she used them in this book. For start we have a heroine Pagan, who is just an ordinary girl. Except she is exceptionally beautiful (but is not aware of it), everyone comments about her wonderful & caring personality (but she is quick to form judgement based on prejudice) and is part of ordinary small group of friends (who just happen to be richest girl in town and best athlete in school - yeah real outcasts...).

To make it worse, the romance of course had to be a love triangle with two handsome and popular boys, Dank and Leif, fighting for Pagan. It's insta-love! It's dramatic! Oh, whom will she choose?!?! No, it's not obvious at all...

I have read some contemporary romance novels by Abbi Glines before and thought about her as an author who can really transfer passion and love between characters to the pages of her novels. But for some reason this didn't happen with Existence. Maybe it's there but all those cliches are blocking me from feeling it.

Existence ends with a lot of suspense and a cliffhanger but I think I am going to spare myself and skip reading the rest of this trilogy.

In The End...

If you are a fan of young adult paranormal romance novels and cliches I mentioned do not bother you, then Existence might end up on your favorites shelf. It happened with a lot of my bookworm-friends. As for me, it's just another book which makes me feel like a black sheep...

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Book Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

2013-10-11T14:54:00.001+02:00

For Darkness Shows the Stars

#1 in For Darkness Shows the Stars series

by Diana Peterfreund

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia, Romance

Format: Ebook, 416 pages
Published On: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (imprint of HarperCollins)
Source: Purchased

♥ Free Prequel Novella ♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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First Sentence: Dear Kai, My name is Elliot, and I am six years old and live in the big house.

Summary

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

For Darkness Shows the Stars is one of those book that takes time to develop but when it grip you, it does not let you go until the end.

Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth. Social structure reminded me of Gone with the Wind. Luddites govern the land while Reduced are servants. At the start I was confused how we declined into slavery again, but slowly the reasons were revealed to me. Diana Peterfreund really tests your patience in some points. Readers who are used to new fast and gritty style of writing might be bored, but I think lovers of classics will enjoy reading For Darkness Shows the Stars.

The main focus of For Darkness Shows the Stars is romance. Those who have read Persuasion, know the story well: forbidden young love, pain over unrequited feelings, questioning is everything worth sacrificing for true love... Elliot and Kai had me sighing and signing I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).

As always dystopian setting also poses some interesting philosophical questions. Do genetical enhancements make us something else than human? Should science be limited? Can some acts be qualified as 'playing God'? Is controlling people 'for their own good' right? Those and many more similar questions were running trough their mind while I was reading.

Diana Peterfreund has another treat scheduled for us on October 15th 2013: Across a Star-Swept Sea is set in the same world and based on The Scarlet Pimpernel. I hope I will enjoy it as much as I did For Darkness Shows the Stars. Until then, prequel novellas Among the Nameless Stars and The First Star To Fall are free on Amazon. I know I will be reading them soon.

In The End...

For Darkness Shows the Stars is written in style which fans of classic literature will enjoy. The world building and characterisation take time to develop but when they do you will sigh over forbidden love and ponder some interesting questions. I know I will be recommending this book to a lot of my friends.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Book Review: Undeadly by Michele Vail

2013-10-10T14:01:00.000+02:00

Undeadly

#1 in The Reaper Diaries series

by Michele Vail

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Zombies

Format: Ebook, 304 pages
Published On: December 1, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley

♥ Watch Book Trailer ♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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First Sentence: So, my... um, friend gave me a diary for my sixteenth birthday because, apparently, it's a necromancer tradition.

Summary

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...
Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper--and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.
Life at Nekyia has its pluses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain--Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

Undeadly is one of those books that when you look back in retrospective makes you wonder: why the hell did I like it? Especially since just a glance at the first sentence reminds me how horrible first person point-of-view narration by Molly was. She used phrases 'like', 'suckitude', 'crap' and other words that authors use to badly imitate teenage lingo. But although at first she was immensely annoying, Molly and her attitude grew on me and the urge to strangle her or yell at her that she is too stupid to live lessened as the world Michele Vail invented pulled me in.

One of the things that I liked is a setting. In an alternate version of Earth where necromancy is not just in fiction, we follow Molly as she struggles with her gift and tries to accept it. And I especially loved Nekyia Academy, private academy, which Molly ends up attending. The atmosphere had Hogwarts feel although with private room and personal servant you can't say Molly is just one of the crowd like Harry Potter.

Another thing that tipped the scales and made me enjoy Undeadly was huge amount of Egyptian mythology used. It's one of my weak spots and it's so rare to find a good book that features Egyptian gods in contemporary setting and with an interesting back-story. And Undeadly certainly had that.

With HUUUGE cliffhanger ending, Michele Vail definitely has me on the edge of my seat eagerly awaiting October 29th 2013 and sequel Unchosen to be published.

In The End...

If you like young adult paranormal novels and Egyptian mythology, then Undeadly might be the book you are looking for. But make sure to read the excerpt first before buying, because the style of narration will probably irritate some readers.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Waiting On Wednesday: Armada by Ernest Cline

2013-10-09T06:47:00.000+02:00

Armada by Ernest Cline
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publication Date: July, 2014
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Goodreads ◊ Official Website

Summary:

Zack Lightman is daydreaming through another dull math class when the high-tech dropship lands in his school's courtyard-and when the men in the dark suits and sunglasses leap out of the ship and start calling his name, he's sure he's still dreaming.

But the dream is all too real; the people of Earth need him. As Zack soon discovers, the videogame he's been playing obsessively for years isn't just a game; it's part of a massive, top-secret government training program, designed to teach gamers the skills they'll need to defend Earth from a possible alien invasion. And now…that invasion is coming.

As he and his companions prepare to enter their ships and do battle, Zack learns that the father he thought was dead is actually a key player in this secret war. And together with his father, he'll uncover the truth about the alien threat, race to prevent a genocide, and discover a mysterious third player in the interplanetary chess game he's been thrown into.
~ taken from Goodreads

Why Am I Waiting On Armada by Ernest Cline?

I ♥ loved ♥ Ready Player One.
Again the story is related to videogames and as a passionate (if not regular) gamer I can always relate to that.
It reminds me of Flight of the Navigator and brings back childhood memories.

So, those are my reasons why I am waiting on Armada. What are yours? Did you hear about Armada before? Will you read it? What are you waiting for?

Feel free to leave links in comments.

Book Review: Parasite by Mira Grant

2013-10-08T11:30:00.000+02:00

Parasite

#1 in Parasitology series

by Mira Grant

Age: Adult
Genre: SciFi, Thriller

Format: Ebook, 608 pages
Published On: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Orbit
Source: NetGalley

♥ Official Website ♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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First Sentence: This is not the first thing I remember.

Summary

A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.
We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.
But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives . . . and will do anything to get them.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

I heard a lot of good (and great) things about Mira Grant and Newsflesh Trilogy, but Parasite is first book by her I read and I really enjoyed it. It's a thrilling page-turner that will make you think you have gained super-fast reading speed. At least, until you look at the clock and see what time it is.

In the not-so-distant future, humanity has found a perfect solution to improve health of population. You just need to swallow one little pill and all your allergies will disappear and your immune system will improve ten-fold. What's the catch? Well, you will have a tapeworm living in your gastrointestinal tract. Yep you heard me right. A tapeworm. A parasite.

Believe it or not, this idea actually became very popular and most of the population accepted it. That's definite proof that good advertising can sell anything. Hats off to SymboGen's marketing department. As for me, if I can choose, I would not have any parasite in me even when I am dead. I don't care that this is friendly neighborhood tapeworm. Just a thought about something squiggling trough my body creeps me out. Not to mention that thing laying eggs etc. Sneezing when there is too much dust sounds like better option for me, thank you very much.

"SymboGen: the castle that worms built." ~ Sal from Parasite by Mira Grant [image source]

One of the reasons that Parasite presents such an engaging story and sounds so real is that it's full of excerpt from interviews and science studies. It somehow gives the story credibility and makes it all seem possible. The other thing that made me connect with the story so much was the choice of a narrator.

~~Sally~~ Sal had a horrible car accident which she barely survived and suffered from amnesia as consequence. And when I say amnesia, I mean total amnesia. She didn't remember even English language and had to relearn again. Having a narrator who is new to the society and culture makes introduction to the story and the world so much smoother and easier.

I could understand why Sal sometimes felt distant from other people. It's not easy when everyone knows your story and you are "a bit of a celebrity, a bit of an experiment, and a bit of a cautionary tale, all at the same time." But Sal still has so much humanity, sympathy and honor.

I also liked the fact that Sal has a boyfriend. They are already in a relationship, they trust each other and Nathan is so cute in a geeky sort of way. It's so refreshing when book features a strong loving couple and I hope this stays the same in the future.

As the end of Parasite came near, the tempo increased, the big revelations started happening and then with a last big shocking discovery we have... to wait for the next book. I am definitely intrigued to find out what happens next and will be reading Symbiogenesis when it's published.

In The End...

If you like books about government and big corporations conspiracies, and you are sick of zombie virus as cause for people going crazy in the future, then check out Parasite by Mira Grant. It's will creep you out, not with gore or scary monster, but with reality of all this becoming true someday.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Book Review: The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan

2013-10-07T15:27:00.001+02:00

The Crown Tower

#1 in The Riyria Chronicles series

by Michael J. Sullivan

Age: Adult
Genre: Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 416 pages
Published On: August 6, 2013
Publisher: Orbit
Source: NetGalley

♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

First Sentence: Hadrian Blackwater hadn't gone more than five steps off the ship before he was robbed.

Summary

TWO MEN WHO HATE EACH OTHER. ONE IMPOSSIBLE MISSION. A LEGEND IN THE MAKING.
A warrior with nothing to fight for is paired with a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Together they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm’s most valuable possessions. But it isn't gold or jewels the old wizard is after, and this prize can only be obtained by the combined talents of two remarkable men. Now if Arcadias can just keep Hadrian and Royce from killing each other, they just might succeed.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

The Crown Tower is first book in The Riyria Chronicles that is a prequel to The Riyria Revelations series by Michael J. Sullivan. If you haven't heard about this series or author before, then you obviously are not an epic fantasy fan. I've been planning to start reading The Riyria Revelations for sometime now, but as always with overflowing to-read list somehow I never really got to it. So when a free ebook of The Crown Tower was up for review and note said that it can be read either way, I jumped to the chance to review it.

Royce and Hadrian, fanart by Sarctic [image source]

If you have chosen to start hanging out with Royce and Hadrian by reading The Crown Tower, like me, then you decided to follow chronological order of books. Although my OCD usually makes me pick this type of reading series, in case of Riyria my advice would be to go with publication order. A lot of times I had a feeling that I should feel much deeper connection to the characters or that there are mysterious links invisible to me that are familiar to those who read The Riyria Revelations. To them The Riyria Chronicles will be reunion with a well know friends and I think they enjoyed reading this book much more than I did.

That being said, I can not say I didn't like The Crown Tower. Michael J. Sullivan has a nice writing style, he does not overwhelm you with infodumps, there is always something happening and new facets of characters personalities are constantly revealed. It's always interesting reading about characters that are opposite but have to cooperate together, and reading about Royce and Hadrian was no different.

But my favorite part of the book were chapters dedicated to Gwen, a poor prostitute and her fight for survival. These chapters do not have almost any connection to current Royce and Hadrian's story but there are hints that Gwen will play big part in the future. I'm glad because I always like reading about strong and resourceful female characters.

In The End...

For Riyria fans, The Crown Tower brings a little bit more of your favorite characters. I know you'll be happy to read about them. As for those unfamiliar to them, I recommend starting with The Riyria Revelations and then using this series to satisfy you yearning for more Royce and Hadrian. ;)

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Book Review: The Fairest of Them All by Carolyn Turgeon

2013-10-03T10:15:00.000+02:00

The Fairest of Them

by Carolyn Turgeon

Age: Adult
Genre: Fairy Tales

Format: Ebook, 288 pages
Published On: August 6, 2013
Publisher: Touchstone
Source: Edelweiss

♥ Read an Excerpt ♥

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First Sentence: I was the girl with the long long hair, trapped in the tower.

Summary

What if Rapunzel was Snow White’s evil stepmother? From the author of Godmother and Mermaid, The Fairest of Them All explores what happens when fairy tale heroines grow up and don’t live happily ever after.
Living in an enchanted forest, Rapunzel spends her days tending a mystical garden with her adoptive mother, Mathena. A witch, Mathena was banished from court because of her magic powers, though the women from the kingdom still seek her advice and herbal remedies. She waits, biding her time to exact revenge against those who banished her.
One day Rapunzel’s beautiful voice and long golden locks captivate a young prince hunting in the forest nearby. Overcome, he climbs her hair up to her chamber and they fall into each other’s arms. But their afternoon of passion is fleeting, and the prince must return to his kingdom, as he is betrothed to another.
Now king, he marries his intended to bring peace to his kingdom. They have a stunning daughter named Snow White. Yet the king is haunted by his memories of Rapunzel, and after the mysterious death of his wife, realizes he is free to marry the woman he never stopped longing for. In hopes of also replacing the mother of his beloved daughter, the king makes Rapunzel his queen.
But when Mathena’s wedding gift of an ancient mirror begins speaking to her, Rapunzel falls under its evil spell, and the king begins to realize that Rapunzel is not the beautiful, kind woman he dreamed of.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

Fairytales and retellings are one of my favorite themes in books, so you can accurately guess I was pretty excited to read The Fairest of Them. I could not wait to find out how Carolyn Turgeon combined Rapunzel and Snow White.

Surprisingly, the merge of these two fairytales went pretty smoothly. First events from Rapunzel happen and then from Snow White happen. Transition was masterfully done and there were a couple of new unexpected elements and twists that made the reading enjoyable.

Story is narrated in first person by Rapunzel. There were times when I struggled with her descriptions of events. If something bad happened to her, I felt like she tried to make me feel sorry for her. Vice versa, if Rapunzel did something bad, I felt like she was making excuses for her behavior. I guess what I am trying to say is that too much is explained through narration. And that leads us to second problem I had: sometimes flat characterisation. I like to get to know characters well and then decide myself. Too many excuses will not make me sympathise with them.

Yeah yeah... :p You always have a choice. [image source]

If we neglect these personal issues I had, The Fairest of Them is a quick and entertaining read.

You may notice that I didn't label it as young adult. Honestly, I think that there is too much sexual situations and some themes that are not of interest to younger audience like: infidelity in marriage, infertility etc.

In The End...

With interesting combination of two famous stories, The Fairest of Them will make all fans of fairytale retellings happy. Just be warned, for a book labeled as young adult, there is a lot of sex and other mature topics.

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Book Review: The Ruling Sea by Robert V.S. Redick

2013-10-02T11:17:00.001+02:00

The Ruling Sea

#2 in The Chathrand Voyage series

by Robert V.S. Redick

Age: Adult
Genre: Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 672 pages
Published On: December 28, 2010
Publisher: Del Rey (imprint of Random House)
Source: NetGalley

♥ Read an Excerpt: Prologue & Chapter One ♥

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First Sentence: The final, disastrous voyage of IMS Chathrand gave rise to many myths.

Summary

The plans of the dark sorcerer Arunis have been thwarted—for now. But the battle for control of the gargantuan ship Chathrand, on which hinges the fate of empires, is far from over. A small band of allies on board, bound together less by trust than by need, must scramble to fight an imperial conspiracy, while the sword-wielding Lady Thasha Isiq and the deckhand Pazel Pathkendle find themselves unwillingly drawn in to Arunis’s shadow games by unexpected secrets. Worst of all, in the belly of the Chathrand there lurks a festering horror, the product of a malevolent power determined to tear down the pillars of the world. Now, as the Chathrand sets course through the vast Ruling Sea—so large it has never been crossed in living memory—the fragile bonds of trust and love between the unlikely allies will be tested to the breaking point as they face unspeakable terrors, unimaginable wonders, and shattering betrayals that dwarf everything that has come before.
~ taken from Goodreads

Previous Books in Chathrand Voyages series

The Red Wolf Conspiracy

My Thoughts

If you are following my ~~ramblings~~ reviews, you have probably read how much I liked The Red Wolf Conspiracy, first part of Chathrand Voyages. Not even a rough start with too much jumping between characters could dampen my enthusiasm.

But, as often happens to me when I like the first part in series so much, I delayed reading The Ruling Sea. Will it be as awesome? Maybe it was a fluke? Will Robert V.S. Redick disappoint me or earn a place in a hall of my all-time-favorites? Finally I have gathered enough courage to sail on further into the adventure.

From the beginning it's perfectly clear that Robert V.S. Redick listened to the readers input. The Ruling Sea has a much more concise start and jumps between characters are not so often. Also, the fact that most of the characters are familiar to us from The Red Wolf Conspiracy helps. Although my reading went much smoother, I could not but sadly notice that excitement and tension, because of this, were also tampered down in The Ruling Sea. I know, you can never please some people. o:)

I liked that The Ruling Sea gives us a better understanding of Mzithrini culture and that we get the better look at the so-called 'enemy' but I hoped that the plot will progress more. The Ruling Sea seemed more to deepen and clarify the characterisation and world building.

Maybe if The Red Wolf Conspiracy was not so full of adventure you would not hear me complaining me so much, it's not like nothing happens. Chathrand sails The Ruling Sea and some new strands in the web of the conspiracy are revealed. And with huge shock and discovery at the end, I am definitely left intrigued and ready to find out more.

In The End...

The Ruling Sea continues adding more intriguing depths to the characters and the world, that The Red Wolf Conspiracy introduced us to. Although maybe a little bit calmer in pacing, it's a solid sequel to the series. Chathrand Voyages still has my recommendation as a good fantasy adventure if you like ships, conspiracies and magic.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Playlist & Giveaway: When the World Was Flat (and we were in love) by Ingrid Jonach

2013-09-30T10:28:00.000+02:00

Today as part of the blog tour for When the World Was Flat (and we were in love) by Ingrid Jonach, you have an opportunity to:

find out more info about this original science fiction romance for young adults
check out awesome playlist made by author Ingrid Jonach
enter a giveaway for your chance to win a signed copy of this book and other awesome goodies

When the World Was Flat (and we were in love)

by Ingrid Jonach

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction, Contemporary

Published On: September 3, 2012 in the US and Canada, September 5, 2012 in the UK
Publisher: Strange Chemistry

♥ Read an Excerpt ♥ Grab the Wallpaper ♥

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First Sentence: I remember when I first heard his name - Tom.

Summary for When the World Was Flat (and we were in love):

Looking back, I wonder if I had an inkling that my life was about to go from ordinary to extraordinary.
When sixteen-year-old Lillie Hart meets the gorgeous and mysterious Tom Windsor-Smith for the first time, it’s like fireworks — for her, anyway. Tom looks as if he would be more interested in watching paint dry; as if he is bored by her and by her small Nebraskan town in general.
But as Lillie begins to break down the walls of his seemingly impenetrable exterior, she starts to suspect that he holds the answers to her reoccurring nightmares and to the impossible memories which keep bubbling to the surface of her mind — memories of the two of them, together and in love.
When she at last learns the truth about their connection, Lillie discovers that Tom has been hiding an earth-shattering secret; a secret that is bigger — and much more terrifying and beautiful — than the both of them. She also discovers that once you finally understand that the world is round, there is no way to make it flat again.
An epic and deeply original sci-fi romance, taking inspiration from Albert Einstein’s theories and the world-bending wonder of true love itself.
~ provided by blog tour organisator

A Little Bit More About Ingrid Jonach:

Ingrid Jonach writes books for children and young adults, including the chapter books The Frank Frankie and Frankie goes to France published by Pan Macmillan, and When the World was Flat (and we were in love) published by Strange Chemistry.

Since graduating from university with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing (Hons) in 2005, Ingrid has worked as a journalist and in public relations, as well as for the Australian Government.

Ingrid loves to promote reading and writing, and has been a guest speaker at a number of schools and literary festivals across Australia, where she lives with her husband Craig and their pug dog Mooshi.

Despite her best efforts, neither Craig nor Mooshi read fiction.

Website ◊ Twitter ◊ Goodreads ◊ Facebook

~ by Ingrid Jonach

These are songs that inspired me while I was writing When the World was Flat (and we were in love). If you have read the book you might want to have a listen. And, if you are currently reading it, I have included a note on when you should listen to each song.

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 15. Listen again after Chapter 21.

Can you remember who I was?
Can you still feel it?
Can you find my pain?
Can you heal it?

Then lay your hands upon me now
And cast this darkness from my soul
You alone can light my way
You alone can make me whole
Once again.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Crossroads' by Don McLean

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 21. Listen again after Chapter 29.

I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart.

Tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'The Scientist' by Cold Play

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 21.

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri

(originally by the Beatles)

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 22.

Sounds of laughter 
Shades of earth 
Are ringing through my opened mind 
Inciting and inviting me. 

Limitless undying love
Which shines around me like a million suns 
And calls me on and on across the universe.  

Jai guru deva om 
Nothing's gonna change my world.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Across the Universe' by Rufus Wainwright

[Caution: Coarse Language]

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 22.

I will love you 'til the end of time 
I would wait a million years 
Promise you'll remember that you're mine 
Baby, can you see through the tears? 
Love you more 
Than those b*tches before 
Say you'll remember. Oh baby, say you'll remember 
I will love you 'til the end of time. 
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Blue Jeans' by Lana Del Rey

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 23.

All alone in space and time
There's nothing here, but what here's mine
Something borrowed, something blue
Every me and every you
Every me and every you
Every me...
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Every You, Every Me' by Placebo

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 24.

Starting from here, let's make a promise
You and me, let's just be honest
We're gonna run, nothing can stop us
Even the night that falls all around us.

Nothing can stop us, not now, I love you
They're not gonna get us
they're not gonna get us.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Not Gonna Get Us' by Tatu

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 26.

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited
But I couldn't stay away
I couldn't fight it
Had hoped you'd see my face
And that you'd be reminded
That for me, it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Someone Like You' by Adele

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 26.

I was lost, I was lost
Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed
I was lost, oh yeah.

I was scared, I was scared
Tired and under-prepared.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'In my Place' by Coldplay

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 26.

In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no alibi
'Cause I've drawn regret
From the truth
Of a thousand lies.

I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'What I've Done' by Linkin Park

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 27.

Hold me
Even though I know you're leaving.

Tell me that someday you'll be returning
And maybe
Maybe I'll believe.

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'One Moment More' by Mindy Smith

Recommendation: Listen after Chapter 29.

Such a lonely day
And it's mine
The most loneliest day of my life.

And if you go, I wanna go with you
And if you die, I wanna die with you.

Take your hand and walk away.
~ Lyrics excerpt from 'Lonely Day' by System of a Down

Giveaway:

As part of Around the World in 80 Days Blog Tour for When the World was Flat (and we were in love) by Ingrid Jonach, there are some awesome prize packages to be won.

There will be two winners worldwide. Each prize package includes:

a signed copy of When the World was Flat (and we were in love)
a pair of silver plated key-shaped earrings in a When the World was Flat (and we were in love) gift box
a When the World was Flat (and we were in love) bookmark.

The competition will run until 21 October 2013 and the winners will be announced on this page and via www.ingridjonach.com.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!

Book Review: Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur

2013-07-29T12:23:00.000+02:00

Dancing with the Devil

#1 in Nikki & Michael series

by Keri Arthur

Age: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Vampires

Format: Ebook, 352 pages
Published On: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Dell (imprint of Random House)
Source: Edelweiss

♥ Read Excerpt ♥ Watch Fan-Made Trailer ♥

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First Sentence: Someone followed her.

Summary

BEYOND THE SHADOWS

Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst and believes there’s nothing left to surprise her. But all that changes the night she follows a rich man’s daughter into the shadows and finds herself caught in a war between two very different men. One is a madman, intent on destruction. The other has his own heart of darkness.

For three hundred years, Michael Kelly has existed in life’s shadows, gradually learning to control his vampire cravings. He is convinced that no one can breach his formidable barriers—until he meets Nikki. With her powerful psychic abilities, Nikki swiftly invades both his mind and his heart. Nikki knows how dangerous love can be . . . but if she wants to survive, she must place her trust in this man who could easily destroy her. For only together can they overcome the evil threatening to destroy them both.
~ taken from Publisher's Website

My Thoughts

Dancing With the Devil is an 'oldie' written by Keri Arthur in 2001. But this year Dell is re-publishing it with awesome new covers. I am sure all Keri Arthur fans were glad and planned to upgrade their collection.

I have never read anything by Keri Arthur before although I heard some good things about her series Riley Jenson Guardian and Dark Angels. So when I saw Nikki & Michael series available for review on NetGalley, I tentatively requested Dancing With the Devil.

New covers for Nikki & Michael series by Keri Arthur.

Dancing With the Devil starts in the usual urban fantasy cliche. We have a heroine Nikki who is private detective, has some psychic/kinetic powers and is on a case looking for a missing girl. But instead of usual mix of mystery everything is explained right away and we are left to watch the game of cat and mouse between Nikki and main villain. Since there are three more books in the series, I had little doubts who will win so there was not really any tension or suspense.

Nikki's personality didn't help to make this book any more interesting. I like my urban fantasy heroines with a little bit more spunk and sarcasm, no matter if they drown me in puns like Charley Davidson or are just pure kick-ass like Cat from Night Huntress series. Nikki was just too plain for my taste. She lived on the streets as a teen but she remained very pure and innocent in some ways. And I didn't like that most of the time she just got in the trouble, Michael had to save her.

Another things that could spice things a bit was romance. But the spark was missing. I could understand why Nikki is attracted to handsome Michael, but there are hints of much deeper psychic connection that I saw no reason for forming. I guess some people can just 'click' but I missed the moment when that happened between them, so the romance felt rather flat and not like a big love story that will drag me in and tickle my curiosity to find out what happens next.

Dancing With the Devil was not really my kind of novel. The case is over and, surprise surprise, Nikki and Michael won and survived. And although Michael did a pretty good impression of Rhett Butler in the end, I am satisfied to leave it at that. I know they will get together in the end and I am not intrigued enough to continue reading this series.

In The End...

For Keri Arthur's fans or those who love reading books about chasing the villains and heroine with damsel-in-distress syndrome, Dancing With the Devil will probably be an enjoyable read.

If you like your heroines with a tougher attitude, good mystery in a story or passionate romance then this is probably not a book/series for you.

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Book Review: Glass Frost by Liz DeJesus

2013-07-19T20:17:00.000+02:00

Glass Frost

#2 in Bianca Frost series

by Liz DeJesus

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 220 pages
Published On: July 19, 2013
Publisher: Euterpe (imprint of Musa Publishing)
Source: Accepted review request

Goodreads • Shelfari
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First Sentence: Terrance was here.

Summary

When joined together, Cinderella's slippers grant the wearer her heart's desire. But whose wish will be granted?

When Cinderella’s glass slipper is stolen, Queen Felicia sends her faithful steward Terrance to the real world to retrieve his love and witch-in-training, Bianca Frost. The power of the glass slipper in the wrong hands could ruin peace in Everafter. Bianca must gather every bit of magic she has learned in the past few weeks to find the slipper and protect her new love. Together, Bianca, Ming, Prince Ferdinand, and Terrance venture deep into the heart of Everafter to seek clues as to who has stolen the slipper and why. Along the way, they uncover what happened to the Seven Dwarves after Snow White married the prince, but also learn the awful risk of tampering with black magic and the high price that must be paid for magical aid, even when used for good.

Bianca and Terrance’s relationship is put to the test. Through the pain of suffering and loss, Bianca must determine if following her gallant boyfriend into his faraway world is in fact her heart's desire.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

Glass Frost is sequel to the First Frost. Although this time our heroes Bianca, Terrance, Ming and Prince Ferdinand will have a new quest to complete and new villain to defeat, I still recommend for you to read First Frost first. You will get better introduction to the characters, country and customs.

All the things I liked and enjoyed in First Frost are present here: Liz DeJesus' easy-to-read writing style and familiar fairy tale characters used to make a new story. There will be seven dwarves, fae queen Titania, big bad wolf, frog prince and many more. Liz DeJesus again reinvents them and puts them in Bianca path. It's fun, original and interesting.

The one thing that I expected more was more new stuff from The Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts. But Bianca will use mostly the same she used in First Frost. I hoped for more new artifacts and more awesome and cool powers they have.

Those looking forward to more romance will get what they were expecting. Both love stories continue to develop, some of them in unexpected ways. And still no love triangle, insta-love or other things that irritate me in ya novels (yay). The romance is slow, characters think about their actions, talk about their future. There will be some light kissing but not much more, so this series is still safe read for young adults or even teens.

The end of the book is cliffhanger free, quest ends, current mystery resolves but there are some questions left how relationship between characters will continue so I know I can look forward to the sequel and more adventures with Bianca and her friends.

In The End...

Glass Frost was not a disappointment. Very good sequel in to Bianca Frost series. All people who like young adult fantasy featuring fairy tale characters in a new original plot should give it a try.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

All Books in Bianca Frost series

First Frost - my review
Glass Frost

Waiting On Wednesday: When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach

2013-07-17T08:00:00.000+02:00

When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Goodreads ◊ Amazon

Summary:

Looking back, I wonder if I had an inkling that my life was about to go from ordinary to extraordinary.

When sixteen-year-old Lillie Hart meets the gorgeous and mysterious Tom Windsor-Smith for the first time, it’s like fireworks — for her, anyway. Tom looks as if he would be more interested in watching paint dry; as if he is bored by her and by her small Nebraskan town in general.

But as Lillie begins to break down the walls of his seemingly impenetrable exterior, she starts to suspect that he holds the answers to her reoccurring nightmares and to the impossible memories which keep bubbling to the surface of her mind — memories of the two of them, together and in love.

When she at last learns the truth about their connection, Lillie discovers that Tom has been hiding an earth-shattering secret; a secret that is bigger — and much more terrifying and beautiful — than the both of them. She also discovers that once you finally understand that the world is round, there is no way to make it flat again.

An epic and deeply original sci-fi romance, taking inspiration from Albert Einstein’s theories and the world-bending wonder of true love itself.
~ taken from Goodreads

Why Am I Waiting On When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach?

Love the book title, it's long, romantic and quirky.
Cover is also pretty: simple and again has hints of romance.
It's summer so I am in a mood for a cute love story.
I'm an Albert Einstein fan (quirky scientist - what's not to love). So just mentioning his name in summary got me interested.
Strange Chemistry didn't fail me yet. I enjoyed all young adult books published by them I have read. I hope this book will be no exception.

P.S. For all bloggers a little side note, When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) is now available on NetGalley for requests. ;)

So, those are my reasons why I am waiting on When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love). What are yours? Did you hear about When the World was Flat (And We Were in Love) before? Will you read it? What are you waiting for?

Feel free to leave links in comments.

Book Review: Scythe Does Matter by Gina X Grant

2013-07-15T17:35:00.000+02:00

Scythe Does Matter

#2 in The Reluctant Reaper series

by Gina X. Grant

Age: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 200 pages
Published On: July 15, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Source: Edelweiss

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First Sentence: Sybil ordered Dante to go find me a glass of water, then plunked down on the bench beside me, her leg brushing against mine.

Summary

Kirsty’s afterlife gets even more Hellish in this second installment of The Reluctant Reaper series when her soul-stealing ex-boss targets her beloved aunt. Her only chance to stop him? Becoming a Reaper herself. Fortunately, her hunky new boyfriend, Italian-poet-turned-Reaper Dante Alighieri, is there to help.
Still trapped in the bureaucratic inferno known as Hell, Kirsty d’Arc redoubles her efforts to escape back to the Mortal Coil when she learns Conrad is after the soul of her beloved aunt. To save Aunt Carey, Kirsty must enroll at the Reaper Academy and earn a scythe of her own. Studying topics like Exor-scything 101, Riding the Death Cycle, and Reincarnation for Dummies is strange. But then, so are her classmates: a fallen angel, the Death Valley girls, and Kali—the ancient god of death, destruction, and those little earring backs that always go missing.

Now time is running out thanks to a temporal crisis she may have accidentally created. Can she graduate, rescue her aunt, take down Conrad, and save Hell and every other dimension—before the clock stops ticking?

As the saying goes in Hell, “Be careful what you wish for; it just might get you!”
~ taken from Amazon

My Thoughts

Scythe Does Matter is sequel to Gina X. Grant's wacky urban fantasy debut The Reluctant Reaper. It can not be read as a standalone and you need to be familiar with events in The Reluctant Reaper to be able to follow what happens. I know that some people do not mind reading series out of order but I think here it's simply not possible, especially since the book is short and there is no time to get to know characters who were previously introduced.

In The Reluctant Reaper we explored hell together with Kirsty as she get to know the rules of afterlife. Now in Scythe Does Matter Kirsty decides that she will deal with Conrad (her evil boss who set her up) personally by becoming the member of Hell's SWAT team, Swiss Guard, customs agents and bounty hunters. In other words, Kirsty enrolls at the Reaper Academy.

When I found out that Scythe Does Matter is going to be about Kirsty attending school for Grim Reapers. I was super excited. The nerd in me was delighted to read about various classes she will be attending and I could not wait to learn what ideas Gina X. Grant had about reaper's education. Kirsty's first glance at the curriculum was promising:

Reap What You Sew: Styling your robe.
Stick Handling: You and your scythe.
Death Coaching: Don't be the rude of all evil.
etc.

But when classes actually started the description was pretty boring (like actual school). Almost all events happened at class held by one teacher and other fun classes and wacky subjects were neglected and not described. New fellow students appeared as side characters, but even though we had Indian goddess Kali and fallen angel, I missed Char, Claire Voyant and others.

With romance between Dante and Kirsty still without a spark for me and a little bit dull classes at the Reaper Academy, Scythe Does Matter was a lot less wacky and funny than The Reluctant Reaper. Still it resolved some issues and Kirsty's problems with Conrad also developed in an unexpected way. I am hoping that the big finale in Esprit de Corpse will make it worth my while.

In The End...

If you have read and liked The Reluctant Reaper, you probably can't wait to find out what happens next so there is no need to recommend Scythe Does Matter to you.

For those who like urban fantasy about afterlife set in hell with a lot of grim reapers, demons and heroine who likes to talk in puns, The Reluctant Reaper series might prove to be quick, light and fun read for you.

My Rating: 3 out of 5

All Books in The Reluctant Reaper series

The Reluctant Reaper - my review
Scythe Does Matter - Expected pub. date: July 15th, 2013

Book Review: Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis

2013-07-08T21:16:00.002+02:00

Persephone

#1 in Daughters of Zeus series

by Kaitlin Bevis

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Retelling, Mythology

Format: Ebook, 203 pages
Published On: July 5, 2012
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Source: Accepted review request

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First Sentence: "Persephone..."

Summary

There are worse things than death, worse people too

The “talk” was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they're a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn't until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

Mythology is one of my favorite themes and story about Hades and Persephone is my favorite Greek myth. In Persephone, Kaitlin Bevis retold it but with some interesting twists.

I liked that our Persephone lives in a contemporary setting. Don't get me wrong historical novel about Greek culture would be awesome too, but I think this way it's easier to relate to Persephone and her problems. And what if someone today told you, you are a goddess? My reaction would be: "Yeah right." too.

Being a daughter of Zeus is not easy. All kind of creepy characters try to use Persephone for their nefarious purposes. One day, Hades jumps in and saves her and takes her to the safest place he could think of, The Underworld. The only problems is, to bring a (living) Persephone to the Underworld, Hades had to claim her as his bride.

If you are familiar with a Greek myth you will notice slight modifications. Hades here does not abducts but saves Persephone. And although there is attraction between them, the romance does not progress very much. Hades is reluctant to start a relationship with a young woman who is eons younger than him. Since this is a book targeting young adult audience, I think slow developing romance is a perfect choice. I can't wait for second part of the series, because it seems like Persephone had enough waiting and will try to push Hades harder to make a move.

I enjoyed reading Persephone. It was fun, interesting and quick read. My only problem is that it was maybe too much young adult for my taste, but I think it really is a perfect book for younger audience. This is a book I will warmly recommend to my younger cousins.

In The End...

If you like Greek mythology or young adult paranormal novels, then Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis is a perfect opportunity for you to freshen up your knowledge of many famous Greek myths and deities.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Book Review: Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarian

2013-07-06T21:00:00.000+02:00

Cobweb Bride

#1 in Cobweb Bride Trilogy series

by Vera Nazarian

Age: Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 318 pages
Published On: June 22, 2013
Publisher: Leda (imprint of Norilana Books)
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads • Shelfari • LibraryThing
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

First Sentence: He came to them in the heart of winter, asking for his Cobweb Bride.

Summary

Many are called... She alone can save the world and become Death's bride.

COBWEB BRIDE (Cobweb Bride Trilogy, Book One) is a history-flavored fantasy novel with romantic elements of the Persephone myth, about Death's ultimatum to the world.

What if you killed someone and then fell in love with them?

In an alternate Renaissance world, somewhere in an imaginary "pocket" of Europe called the Kingdom of Lethe, Death comes, in the form of a grim Spaniard, to claim his Bride. Until she is found, in a single time-stopping moment all dying stops. There is no relief for the mortally wounded and the terminally ill....

Covered in white cobwebs of a thousand snow spiders she lies in the darkness... Her skin is cold as snow... Her eyes, frozen... Her gaze, fiercely alive...

While kings and emperors send expeditions to search for a suitable Bride for Death, armies of the undead wage an endless war... A black knight roams the forest at the command of his undead father... Spies and political treacheries abound at the imperial Silver Court.... Murdered lovers find themselves locked in the realm of the living...

Look closer--through the cobweb filaments of her hair and along each strand shine stars...

And one small village girl, Percy--an unwanted, ungainly middle daughter--is faced with the responsibility of granting her dying grandmother the desperate release she needs.

As a result, Percy joins the crowds of other young women of the land in a desperate quest to Death's own mysterious holding in the deepest forests of the North...

And everyone is trying to stop her.
~ taken from Amazon

My Thoughts

Cobweb Bride with theme about Death looking for a bride and the fact that main heroine is called Persephone fooled me into thinking it will be a retelling of a famous greek myth about Persephone and Hades. But Vera Nazarian didn't do this, instead she created a different and completely unique story.

Set in an imaginary European country, Cobweb Bride takes place during Renaissance, one of my favorite historical periods. There will be glittering courts and their intrigues, intricate wigs and fashion, but also we will get a glimpse of how the poor lived in this time, because the heroes of Cobweb Bride are from different social groups.

As I already said, Cobweb Bride is about a peculiar subject. Death appears and declares that there will be no more dying until his cobweb bride arrives to his home in Northern Forest. A lot of horrible things happen because nobody can't die: mutilated soldiers in battles never get relief, old sick people are endlessly tortured by disease, even animal can not be killed anymore... The plot of the book unravels slowly. Vera Nazarian does not want to miss anything and in great detail shows us how absence of death influences all spheres of life and of course different reactions of people.

This is one of those times when it's better if you skip reading the book summary, because they wrote all events from the first part of Cobweb Bride Trilogy. So if you have read the summary, you might feel that the book ended without much happening or that it was boring. Since I skip reading book summaries exactly for the reason of not spoiling something, I didn't have this problem.

I enjoyed reading Cobweb Bride, although it was slow at times. I liked that Persephone aka. Percy is ordinary girl and not some awesome beauty and I enjoyed reading about her adventures. I expected much more romance because Cobweb Bride is advertised as fantasy romance, but the love story is very subtle and starts developing only at the end of the book.

In The End...

If you like reading about realistic heroines, alternate history, noble knights and quests, then Vera Nazarian wrote a perfect book for you. If you are looking for a classic retelling of Hades and Persephone myth or a lot of romance, you might be disappointed.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Book Review: The Thousand Names by Django Wexler

2013-07-05T07:36:00.001+02:00

The Thousand Names

#1 in The Shadow Campaigns series

by Django Wexler

Age: Adult
Genre: Fantasy

Format: Ebook, 544 pages
Published On: March 25,2012
Publisher: Roc (imprint of Penguin)
Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads • Shelfari • LibraryThing
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

First Sentence: The new supreme rulers of Khandar met in the old common room of the Justices, the cudgel-bearing peacekeepers and constabulary that were now the closest thing the city of Ashe-Katarion had to a civil authority.

Summary

Enter an epic fantasy world that echoes with the thunder of muskets and the clang of steel—but where the real battle is against a subtle and sinister magic....

Captain Marcus d’Ivoire, commander of one of the Vordanai empire’s colonial garrisons, was resigned to serving out his days in a sleepy, remote outpost. But that was before a rebellion upended his life. And once the powder smoke settled, he was left in charge of a demoralized force clinging tenuously to a small fortress at the edge of the desert.

To flee from her past, Winter Ihernglass masqueraded as a man and enlisted as a ranker in the Vordanai Colonials, hoping only to avoid notice. But when chance sees her promoted to command, she must win the hearts of her men and lead them into battle against impossible odds.

The fates of both these soldiers and all the men they lead depend on the newly arrived Colonel Janus bet Vhalnich, who has been sent by the ailing king to restore order. His military genius seems to know no bounds, and under his command, Marcus and Winter can feel the tide turning. But their allegiance will be tested as they begin to suspect that the enigmatic Janus’s ambitions extend beyond the battlefield and into the realm of the supernatural—a realm with the power to ignite a meteoric rise, reshape the known world, and change the lives of everyone in its path.
~ taken from Goodreads

My Thoughts

The Thousand Names is one of the books I was eagerly awaiting in 2013. I have never read anything written by Django Wexler before but awesome cover, genre and the fact that heroine, Winter Ihernglass, is disguised as a man, promised that The Thousand Names will be a book I will thoroughly enjoy. And luckily for me, the promise was kept.

The Thousand Names turned out to be something I did not expect. A military fantasy epic. I thought The Thousand Names will be much lighter and less serious in tone. The theme of female main character enlisted in military reminded me of Mulan, so I expected that focus will be on her personal drama and reasons why she is in that particular situation. Although these topics are briefly explained the focus of The Thousand Names is war.

But somehow as marches and battles alternated and the stakes got higher, I found myself unexpectedly enjoying The Thousand Names. Django Wexler does not overwhelm you with unknown terms or fancy military expressions, so although I did not have any experience in that field, I was sucked into the battle, cheering for our heroes and literally devouring the pages.

I can not say I had a favorite character. I was charmed by quirky and mad genius of Colonel Janus, loyal and truthful Captain Marcus and, of course, Winter Ihernglass. But there were a lot of side characters, ordinary soldiers but heroes never-the-less who I also loved. There was a lot of friendship and warm moments amidst the battles that brought smile to my lips. Django Wexler managed to transfer a sense of accomplishment and good teamwork trough the pages to me and I found myself unexpectedly cheering for the whole Vordanai army.

As for the fantasy elements: we have imaginary world where two countries fight over one territory. Most of the battles will be won by wit and cunning, not by magic. In fact, magic is not part of everyday life.

"Wizards and demons were something that happened to someone else, in some far-away country, or else deep in the past where they belonged, with the Saints and knights in shining armor."

But, similar to A Game of Thrones, after Django Wexler has made us trust his character's judgement, details and events that can not explained without mentions of magic will start to happen.

And then there will be a big finale that will resolve most of the questions, but still leave you wanting for more. More battles and more from our heroes. And, lucky for me, since The Thousand Names is first part of the series The Shadow Campaigns, my wish for more will be fulfilled. There is no info, title or publication date for the next part of the series but I can be optimistic and hope that we will get more to read next year. :)

In The End...

The Thousand Names is a book that will appeal to both seasoned veterans and newbies to the military fantasy genre. It's full of epic battles, friendship and vast array of characters that you will find hard not to admire, love and cheer for. In a flock of fantasy books that are published this year, this is a gem that should not be missed and I warmly recommend it to all fans of fantasy.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Scary Realization About My Book Picking Habits

2013-07-01T11:41:00.000+02:00

When I tried to make list of Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013 I discovered one scary thing. I don't have that much books I have loved in 2013. To be more accurate there are 4 5-star books and 3 4.5-star books.

I never thought about myself as a very strict judgmental reader. I always approach a book expecting to like it. Books are my best friends after all. :) So why are there not more high ratings? It's obvious if we look at the genre of books:

5 star books: YA Fantasy, Fantasy, YA Dystopia
4.5 star books: Historical Fiction, YA Fantasy, Fantasy

But how many books I have read from these genres in 2013?

YA Fantasy: 8
Fantasy: 3
YA Dystopia: 3
Historical Fiction: 2

Except for YA Fantasy, I have obviously neglected these other genres. Instead the genres I have read most in 2013 are Contemporary Romance (average rating: 3.11) and YA Paranormal (average rating: 3.07).

I must be crazy! Pretty shiny covers and hype about new books proved to be too distracting for me...

Lately I was reading without much enthusiasm, since it seemed like none of the books I have read were very enjoyable to me. And now after looking at this statistic, it's obvious that my choice of genres is the problem. In the future I will try to read more books from:

Genres With Highest Average Rating In 2013 On My Blog

Fantasy: 4.33
Steampunk: 4.25
Science Fiction: 4
YA Fantasy: 3.88
Historical Fiction: 3.75
Post-Apocalyptic: 3.75

So expect much much more books from these genres for a change. Yep, that's right. I am steering this blog in a slightly different direction.

Well I guess that was the point of this post. :)

How about you? Do you find yourself reading books just because they have pretty covers and neglect your favorite genres? Or am I the only one?

Kindle Freebies for 28. June 2013.

2013-06-28T16:33:00.000+02:00

Here are the latest Kindle Freebies. I hope there are not much repeats, since I have already a lot of posts it's hard to remember which ones were posted already. And, of course, if you are new to Kindle Freebies madness, don't forget to check out freebies from previous weeks, because a lot of them are still free. ;)

WARNING: Check price before downloading, some of these titles may not be free in your country.

- The 19 Dragons by S.M. Reine Steampunk, Dragons, Fantasy
- Gears of a Mad God: A Steampunk Lovecraft Adventure by Brent Nichols Steampunk, Fantasy
- Nimbus by B.J. Keeton & Austin King Steampunk, Fantasy
- Viridis by Calista Taylor Steampunk, Romance, Mystery

- Island of Fog by Keith Robinson Middle Grade Fantasy
- The Merman and The Moon Forgotten by Kevin McGill Middle Grade Fantasy
- Branded by K.L. Hawker YA Fantasy
- The Cypher by Julian Rosado-Machain YA Fantasy

- Order of the Seers by Cerece Rennie Murphy YA Fantasy
- Keeper of Reign by Emma Right YA Fantasy
- Sentinel by Joshua Winning YA Fantasy
- Halfway by Stephanie Void YA Fantasy

- Threads That Bind by Brant Williams YA Fantasy
- The Witch's Price by S.M. White Fantasy
- Child of Fate by Jason Halstead Fantasy
- Creatures of Appetite by Todd Travis Horror, Mystery

- Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman YA Paranormal
- Cursed by Tara Brown YA Paranormal
- Hidden by M. Lathan YA Paranormal, Shapeshifters
- Insight by Jamie Magee YA Paranormal

- A Demon Made Me Do It by Penelope King YA Paranormal, Demons
- Midnight Fire by Melody Anne YA Paranormal, Angels
- Origins by Steven Tandberg YA Science Fiction
- Hell's Belle by Karen Greco Urban Fantasy, Vampires

- Katie's Hellion by Lizzy Ford Paranormal Romance
- Captured by Erica Stevens Paranormal Romance, Vampires
- Night Time by H.T. Night Paranormal Romance
- Bitten by Merrill Gemus Paranormal Romance, Vampires

Feel free to share your recommendations in comments and tell us what you downloaded or if I should download, read or avoid something from this list.

Book Review: Altered - Revelations of the Evolved by Shawnda Currie

2013-06-27T15:45:00.001+02:00

Altered - Revelations of the Evolved

#1 in The Evolved Trilogy series

by Shawnda Currie

Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Time Travel

Format: Ebook, 214 pages
Published On: March 25,2012
Publisher: Flea Circus Books
Source: Accepted review request

Goodreads • Shelfari • LibraryThing
Amazon • CreateSpace

First Sentence: I knew why I was going.

Summary

(taken from Goodreads)

Abandoned by her family, Lacey is sent to a juvenile detention center known as Clear Waters. Her teen years don't look promising until she is befriended by a mysterious stranger named Taylor, a gorgeous guy whose captivating eyes seem to stare into her soul. Convinced she is in danger at Clear Waters, Lacey joins Taylor in a daring escape. As she meets Taylor's group of friends, she discovers that they're more than they seem – they've been sent from the future to head off an evil corporate plot that will lead to a world war unless averted. With Lacey as their only hope to prevent a grim future, Taylor shows Lacey how to tap into her psychic abilities known in his time as evolved humans. Travelling with her new friends, she discovers the magic of love while she grows into the powerful warrior chosen to make the difference to the world!

My Thoughts

I can honestly say that if I haven't received a review request by Shawnda Currie I would have never read Altered - Revelations of the Evolved. The cover is too plain and it would have never gotten my attention. It's a shame because hiding beside an ugly cover is a decent young adult paranormal novel that I think will be interesting for the fans of that genre.

Altered - Revelations of the Evolved has a lot of unexpected moments and twists, that is, if you haven't read the summary. Since the summary is literally the whole book. I kept waiting for something else to happen but all major twists in story are already told there. I hate it when summaries are too spoilerish, it really kills the tension in the story.

Lacey is introduced to us as a very interesting and unusual character. After all, she is on her way to juvenile detention center. But as the story progressed I just could not connect to Lacey. She suffered from Cinderella complex and had some very unfortunate statements that to me sounded like slut-shaming:

My cheeks blushed as a fantasy danced in my head of my lips pressing against him. What was wrong with me? I wasn't a harlot who searched for guys to randomly hook up with, especially in a place like this.

Everything came too easy for Lacey. She was The One. She knew how to use her awesome psychic skills without much practice. Romance was too instant for my taste too. I would have liked to see her working harder to achieve this.

Also, I didn't approve of the 'Robin Hood' philosophy Lacey's friends promoted and she accepted without second thought. Stealing from corrupt corporations who didn't earn that money the honest way is still stealing and no higher cause can justify that action.

Most of the things that bothered me in Altered - Revelations of the Evolved are my personal conflicts with ya paranormal genre. I hoped there will be more science fiction but it's only mentioned that some characters came to the present via time travel and that was it.

Don't let me complaining cool you down (if you don't have the same pet peeves like me). For fans of ya paranormal genre who can look past the cover, there is a big chance that Altered - Revelations of the Evolved will be enjoyable read.

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5

All Books in The Evolved Trilogy series

Altered - Revelations of the Evolved
Broken - Afflictions of the Evolved
Choices - Complications of the Evolved - Expected pub. date: September 2013