Mystifying Paranormal Reviews

Review: Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 23:55:00 +0000

Title: Magic Triumphs
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels, #10
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Pages: 352
Rating:

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.

For her child.

For Atlanta.

For the world.

Hi, Dad, it's me. I know you're trying to kill me, my husband and our son, but guess what, all is forgiven, I need your help. Ugh. I'd rather walk on broken glass.

The Kate Daniels Series is one of the few series I have enjoyed from start to finish. And MAGIC TRIUMPHS is no exception. I have enjoyed every single book in the series and I am sad it's over. Things happened that I didn't expect, the plot, the characters, the story, it made me want more! So when the end came, I was like, "fuck, now what?"

MAGIC TRIUMPHS opens with Kate giving birth to their son and things are relatively normal for Kate for a while until she is thrown into another big mystery and let me tell you, this one is BIG. On top of that we got a mystery box on her doorstep and she's not really sure of the message inside it and she's busy making sure Roland doesn't get her hands on her son.

Now before starting MAGIC TRIUMPHS I thought this whole book was going to be dedicated to bringing Roland down. I was caught off guard, but the plot twist was so amazing. This BIG mystery involves people dying in a bad way, but it connects to a terrible enemy of Kate's Family, obviously from Roland's side of the Family. And as soon as this is revealed I am totally bummed that this is the last Kate Daniels book because I FREAKING LOVE Kate's family history! Let's just say Kate is a busy bee in the book for all the shit she is occupied with.

Now this big long lost family enemy was done so well. We know how strong Erra and Roland are. I mean Kate and Curran were barely able to defeat Erra, but this enemy was someone Erra and Roland were barely able to defeat, so you know they are strong and I loved that. So Kate thought Roland was their biggest problem, boy was she wrong, this guy's 10X worse. I am insane, but I loved the villian. I swear Ilona Andrews is the only one to get me to love people I'm suppose to hate.

"Don't you want to wait until after dinner?" I murmured into his ear and licked the corner of his jaw, tasting the rough edge of his stubble. "Fuck dinner."

Kate and Curran in this book were amazing as always. Kate obviously will do anything to make sure her son and Curran live, even killing herself. But Kate, you married a stubborn man. Kate has plans in motion to make sure her husband and son survive, but Curran set some things in motion as well. I'll just say he did something BIG. And my mind is thinking how is that possible? Ugh. I can't say more, it's hard to spill and not spill at the same time.

Okay. Conlan Lennert. Gimme! I want one so bad!!! Kate and Curran's son. I FREAKING LOVE HIM!!! I'm sure eveyone will love him. It's always fun when kids are thrown into the mix, and he was definitely fun! Conlan was quite the mystery because of Kate's magic and Curran being a shapeshifter, so what was gonna come out of two very powerful alphas? I'll just say we are STILL finding out stuff about this kid. I will beg you right know, Ilona Andrews, I NEED a Conlan book!

I knew Hugh and Elara just had to be in this book. I mean it's the final book and come on, we need everybody against this huge upcoming battle. Now if you haven't read the Iron and Magic aka Hugh's book, please go back and read it before you read MAGIC TRIUMPHS. Anyways Hugh is here to atone and Kate isn't really sure what to think. And we get to here a little about Hugh's past. Obviously after Hugh's book I love him. Hell! Even before that I loved him. But in MAGIC TRIUMPHS you get a little bit of clarity into Hugh and what a blood bond really means.

"It may prove foolish." "If it does, I'll deal with it," I told her. "Spoken like a queen." My aunt ran her ghostly fingers through my hair. "I finally made you into one." Too bad I've run out of time.

Erra, Kate's Aunt made fantastic character development from when we first met her to the end of the series. I am really glad where Ilona Andrews took her character. She went from unbeatable enemy to mother figure for Kate and I absolutely loved that. And also that despite who Erra was when Kate and her first came face to face to now, Erra is an actual part of Kate's family. Erra is an example of what we wish Roland could be. Let me tell you though Roland is a whole other story.

We see so many moments in the series with Roland and Kate that are perfect father and daughter moments that you wish that he could be more to her. And I will go more in depth with this once this book is out. But I will say I didn't expect this ending for him, but it is genius. (view spoiler) Roland disappointed me. Family should be held above all. After everything, Erra got that, Roland didn't, (view spoiler)

Now MAGIC TRIUMPHS had such a satisfying ending, but I refuse to believe that is it, because this series has tons of side characters with outstanding stories that NEED to be told. I will say this is the end of Kate's story, but for the rest of them, I don't think so. I was left with so many questions for all of the other characters. Ilona Andrews is something amazing to be able to hold my attention for 10 complete books and making me not want it to end.

As I previously said, the Kate Daniels Series was amazing start to finish and without a doubt will always remain to be one of my all-time favorite series. I know Ilona Andrews will write more series I will gush over and I look forward to all their future projects. All I will say is Good-bye, for now.

Review: Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 13:15:00 +0000

Title: Gemina
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #2
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 18 , 2016
Pages: 659
Rating:

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! I seriously have no freaking clue which book I loved better, ILLUMINAE or GEMINA! They both were equally AMAZING! And I don't think I have ever thought that about a first and second book in a a YA Series. To be so speechless beyond believe. To read a book that really stuns and wow's you! To not be able to put the book down. I mean, my god. HOLY FUCK, THIS BOOK! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! As you know from Illuminae, we still have that great format I love so much. GEMINA is told in emails, documents, military files, ims, pictures and more. And it's one of the things I absolutely love about this trilogy.

GEMINA focuses on the Hemidall Jump Station where the Hypatia is trying to get to spread word about the Kerenza invasion. But Hemidall is having their own problems as a elite BeiTech strike team invades Hemidall to take control and killing people off. And we have Hannah Donnelly, the Captain's daughter and Nik Malikov, member of a crime family trying to save Hemidall and help Hypatia from BeiTech! Now when I heard the book would be centered on a different cast of character I was slightly disappointed. So I didn't read this right after Illuminae, I put it off for some time. I worried over nothing. The characters were just as amazing as the ones in Illuminae!

Hannah and Nik! At the beginning Hannah had a boyfriend and Nik was her drug dealer. And Nik was obviously so into Hannah. And she off as a spoiler rich girl. But once the story moved along I came to like them. I'm not going to say I liked them more that Kady and Ezra, but I really did enjoy them. But once the BeiTech strike team invades Hemidall, damn! these two definitely how bad-ass they were. Especially Hannah! Behind all gorgeous face is a warrior!

Of course, I have to have a SPOILER SECTION, so BEWARE if you haven't read the book and don't blame me if you spoiled yourself. I did WARN YOU. But I just have to talk about this shit! Charles Donnelly. My heart broke when he died. All I could think about was Hannah. And he died so horribly. My god. And obviously Hannah kicking the shit out of these BeiTech team members. You go, girl! And when Hannah stabs Nightingale in the eye and wrote in lipstick on the floor: WHO'S NEXT? COME PLAY! HD XOXO Oh, my god! You gotta love this girl!

Jackson Merrick. Hannah's BFF. Secret Double Agent. I knew there was something up with him when he was telling her to turn herself in the BeiTech strike team so they won't kill anymore or some shit. That was just bizarre. But to find out he was the one who betrayed everyone. He is the reason why BeiTech got on Hemidall. Oh, my god! PURE RAGE! And the part later were he is talking to her that she chose Nik and not him?! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? You fucking betrayed her? Her fucking dad id dead because of you! And after all that she's suppose to choose you!? ARE YOU FOR REAL? In the end he does right by Hannah and stays behind to sacrifice himself she Hannah, Nik and Ella (Nik's cousin) can escape.

I prayed through this whole book that Isaac Grant made it out alive. Thank god he did. I couldn't take it if Kady lost both her mom and her dad. Thank you for not killing him! And the different universe thing. Like what? So much shit happening in this book! And before I forget NOT ENOUGH AIDAN! Please let there be more Aidan in the final book! I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE! And then the ending! Can somebody say cliffhanger? Thank god Obsidio is already out! We are now at the END OF THE SPOILER SECTION.

But DAMN! I got so freaking excited when I read such a fantastic book that I go kinda crazy for a little bit! GEMINA definitely had me engaged. It's like these books read like an actual movie and you're there and you're seeing everything unfold. And The Illuminae Files would be a FUCKING AMAZING movie! All I can say is what I've been saying for this whole review already, it was absolutely amazing and I was blown alway and I need to leave you and go reads OBSIDIO ASAP!

Review: Iron & Magic by Ilona Andrews

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:22:00 +0000

Title: Iron & Magic
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: The Iron Convenant, #1
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Pages: 322
Rating:

No day is ordinary in a world where Technology and Magic compete for supremacy…But no matter which force is winning, in the apocalypse, a sword will always work.

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast.

Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she's trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify.

Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies?

As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.”

Hugh and Elara may do both.

She spun on her feet and walked out. Behind her Lamar murmured, "One day that woman will drown you in the moat and I won't blame her."

For real, I didn't think I was going to love IRON AND MAGIC as much as the Kate Daniels Series, but I do! I have no words that will do this book justice. It's just Oh.my.god. Just gimme more already! Now, I have freaking loved Hugh D. Ambray in the Kate Daniels Series since we freaking met him!

I don't know what it is, but hot damn do I love my bad boys. I was even at the point that if there was a Hugh and Kate thing, I didn't mind, I loved him that much! I was so pissed when we didn't see him anymore in the Kate Daniels World. I was like, What happened to my Hugh!!! But to hear he was not only going to get his own book, but his own trilogy?! The gods have answered my prays!

When we meet Hugh D' Ambray in IRON AND MAGIC he is in a very drunken state. Roland has exiled Hugh of failing him in bring his daughter to him. But come on, let's be real, who can make Kate do anything she doesn't wanna do? Not even Curran! lolz! Now the Iron Dogs that Hugh leads are being hunted down by Landon Nez, who is Rolands's left hand man. So Hugh needs to find a base for them.

"If you ever pull a demented stunt like that again, I will make your life a living hell." He bared his teeth at her. "You already do darling."

And now we have Elara Harper, The White Warlock who needs protection. So an Alliance begins, though none of them trust each other. So for it to be a true alliance on the inside and to the outside there has to be a marriage. A marriage between Hugh and Elara who basically can't stand each other!

I greatly enjoyed Hugh's and Elara's constant bickering and fighting all the time. And also to mention trying to piss each other off because they enjoy the other's misery. There is definitely attraction there and the want for the other, and I am going to enjoy seeing this relationship develop further.

I loved like all of the side characters. I enjoyed getting to know the Iron Dogs and I loved getting to know Elara's people as well! After reading IRON AND MAGIC I can't say that I think Hugh is a bad man, he's not. He just followed the wrong man, but that couldn't be prevented because Roland is like the only father Hugh knows. Now I know after finishing IRON AND MAGIC this is the question on everyone's mind, but I just have to say it too, What the hell is Elara? I have to know! I look forward to finding out that's for sure!

Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 14:37:00 +0000

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 20 , 2015
Pages: 602
Rating:

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

HOLY FUCK, THIS BOOK! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! I freaking loved ILLUMINAE to death! To be honest, this book was not on my radar at all, probably because I was taking a break from YA for the last few years. But I noticed this book all over #booktube and #bookstagram and seen how highly rated it was on Goodreads that I had to take a chance on it. Now the fact that it was a sci fi book made me want to pass it by because sci fi is one of my least favorite genres. I just find them so boring. But like I said, I just had to take a chance on this book and I am glad that I did!

I knew very little going into ILLUMINAE and I'm glad I knew very little. The only thing I new was a planet was invaded and destroyed and remaining survivors flee on these ships and those who destroy the planet are on hot pursuit to kill the remaining survivors. Sounds like a wicked awesome plot, right? But to add to that awesomeness this whole book is told in emails, documents, military files, ims, interviews and more.

Now I have never read a book in such a format like this, I'm sure lots of readers haven't, but I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about it at first. Was it going to be easy to understand everything going on? Was I going to like it? The way this book was written is the best damn thing they could'be done, I think I enjoyed this book 100X more than if it was written in the traditional way! I was freaking hooked on the first page and could not freaking stop! I remember just having to stop, because I have to sleep, right? But I would keep thinking about this damn book everytime I wasn't reading it! It was THAT good!

But let's get into it! Our main duo, it Kady and Ezra, who just broke up before chaos erupted on their planet and they are trying to flee and survive. They both up on different ships. Kady ends up on the Hypatia and Ezra ends up on the Alexander-78V while the Lincoln (aka. the bad guys) are hot on their trails to finish off the remaining survivors! But even though Kady and Ezra are both on different ships, they are still in contact with each other via emails/im's!

Now I loved Kady and Ezra, from the beginning to the ending. Both of them just trying to stay alive and get back to each other. Now besides this book being so amazing, it's also horrifyingly violent! Let's just say if you're squeamish, turn around please! I swear at some parts I wanted to close my eyes and hold my mommy, but wait, I'm reading a book, not watching a movie. lolz! I heard myself screaming! and saying EEWW quite a lot. But the horrifying things make for such a good book!

And I have to talk about HIM. I have to! If you've read the book, you know damn well who I'm referring to. I have a crush! I have a crush on a crazy psychotic insane computer. AIDAN. I swear he took the show away from Kady and Ezra for a while there. I immensely enjoyed his mind and his talks with Kady and everything about him. PERFECT.

Of course, I have to have a SPOILER SECTION, so BEWARE if you haven't read the book and don't blame me if you spoiled yourself. I did WARN YOU. But I just have to talk about this shit! James McNulty! Why? Did he have to die? I loved the way he went though and that he had a choice. He made that video and I loved that we got to hear his final words. Byron Zhang! Why? At least you saved Kady from yourself! But I loved you too!

David Torrence. Why? Wait! You're asshole self deserved to die. And Aidan adds the perfect touch to his death, playing Mozart. If this was a movie, I want to see this scene the most. And Aidan, I cannot believe you! Pretending to be Ezra to Katy to the Alexander! Oh.my.god. I'm sorry, but I didn't see that! I did a doubletake. What? I prayed Aidan was lying and Ezra was not dead. Low behold, I get to the ending and scream, FUCK YES!

But OMG. These last 100 pages, I was freaking balling my eyes out crying! I mean Kady and Aidan's last words to each other. THE FEELS! And I was SCREAMING, 'someone please find Kady before she dies'. Thank god, my prays were answered! And, Ezra's mom?! Oh.my.god. I thought I was shocked beyond believe enough already. What.the.hell. That's it! I NEED the next book now! We are now at the END OF THE SPOILER SECTION.

But DAMN. This book took me so many places. When I first picked up this book, I didn't expect to love ILLUMINAE this damn much. This book horrified me to no ends, it gave me so many feels! And made me weep for these characters, characters that you are only getting their story through these emails and documents. That is saying something! Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, Goddess and God of Science Fiction YA! I bow down to you!

Review: Ball & Chain by Abigail Roux

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Ball & Chain
Author: Abigail Roux
Series: Cut & Run, #8
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: March 17, 2014
Pages: 288
Rating:

Home from their unexpected deployment, the former members of Marine Force Recon team Sidewinder rejoin their loved ones and try to pick up the pieces of the lives they were forced to leave behind. Ty Grady comes home to Zane Garrett, only to find that everything around him has changed—even the men he went to war with. He barely has time to adjust before his brother, Deuce, asks Ty to be his best man. But that isn’t all Deuce asks Ty to do, and Ty must call for backup to deal with the business issues of Deuce’s future father-in-law.

Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott join Ty and Zane at the wedding on an island in Scotland, thinking they’re there to assuage Deuce’s paranoia. But when bodies start dropping and boats start sinking, the four men get more involved with the festivities than they’d ever planned to.

With the clock ticking and the killer just as stuck on the isolated island as they are, Ty and Zane must navigate a veritable minefield of family, friends, and foes to stop the whole island from being destroyed.

I was so FREAKING EXCITED to pick up this installment of Cut and Run because I missed my Ty and Zane so damn much! I was definitely doing a re-read before this release. BALL & CHAIN was definitely different from precious books because we have different POV's alternating between Ty and Zane and Nick and Kelly. I didn't mind it so much. I don't think it took away from the story too much, but like a Ty & Zane fangirl for life I wanted more of them because this is Ty and Zane's book and we probably have one more book left for them where Nick is getting his own books, so save that for his book please!

Ty is back and Ty and Zane's relationship have finally been found out and Ty refuses to live away from Zane. He wouldn't be able to survive it. And Ty's brother Deuce is finally having his wedding, so of course Ty and Zane go, but bring Nick and Kelly as back up because there have been threats on The bride's side of the family. I hated the mystery as usually. I mean I didn't hate it in the beginning, the the middle and end seemed to drag on like we got nowhere.

I enjoyed the Ty and Zane storyline. This happens early on so no point hiding it. Ty asks Zane to marry him and this goes on throughout the book because Zane turns him down repeatedly. I love that Zane turns him down, because then I get to hear Ty ask over and over again. It was funny. There were definitely funny moments for these guys, but not enough because the focus became the murder/mystery they were solving and Nick and Ty's problems.

I did enjoy this book very much, but hopefully for our last book we can stick to the main focus being Ty & Zane. The first part was amazing, but the second half fell flat for me. The ending was amazing. Ty, you got it right! Looking forward to the next and final book to Ty & Zane's story!

Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:45:00 +0000

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Pages: 648
Rating:

The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

I am speechless. Sarah J Maas just keeping killing it with these books! QUEEN OF SHADOWS was one of the best books in this series, no I seriously believe it is the best book in the Throne of Glass Series. This book was truly EPIC and gods I still want more! Celaena has comes to terms with her past and is now readying to take a stand and reclaim her title, Aelin Galathynius, Lost Queen of Terrasen.

In QUEEN OF SHADOWS, Aelin comes back to Adarlan and things have gone to hell. She finds out her long lost cousin, Aedion Ashryver has been captured by the King of Adarlan and will be executed on the crown Princes birthday as entertainment, that Dorian is now being controlled by one of the dark rings and there may be no saving him, but til end him and she has to free magic to take down the King. Ugh, lost for this girl to do.

Like the last book, we have some new characters in this book.

♦ Arobynn Hamel. We finally get to meet the King of Assassins. He was one of the those characters that you love to hate and hate to love. He is so mysterious that you don't really know his agenda or end game. He saved Aelin when she was younger and trained her as one of his assassins, but just because he saved her, doesn't mean he is the hero. He is a bad man and wants things his way.

♦ Lysandra. She is a courtesan, (Arobynn is a client of hers), and a former rival of Celaena when they were younger both pinning for Arobynn's attention. But they meet again in this book and decide to become friends. I love Lysandra and Aelin's friendship and Aelin needs some girlfriends!

♦ Nesryn Faliq. Aelin meets her when she comes back to Adarlan and see's her as a guard for Chaol wondering who this girl is. She has known Chaol for years I believe though. But she is working with the rebels to overthrow the King of Adarlan.

♦ And last but not least, Elide Lochan, who is the daughter of Lady Marion. The Lady Marion who was Aelin's nursemaid who sacrificed her life so Aelin could escape the royal castle and live. Small World, huh? But anyways, Elide is working at the Morath as a maid where Manon Blackbeak currently is. And we find out Elide possibly has witch blood in her.

And I know some of these characters were in the Assassin's Blade book which is basically kinda like a prequel, which is about all the events that lead up to the first book, but I haven't read that yet. But this is my first time meeting these characters.

Now I do have some things in the book I want to discuss!

I do not for the life of me understand why everyone loves Chaol or shipped him with Celaena. And it seems like in every new Throne of Glass book, I get even more fed up with his character where I go into pure rage. Chaol was a world-class ASS HOLE in this book.

He basically blames Aelin for what happened to Dorian and Sorcha. He blames her for everything bad that happens in this book. WHAT THE FUCK? He is basically doesn't want to blame himself for what happened to Dorian that he places it on her. He is a pathetic excuse for a man. He finally comes to his senses by the end of the book, but sorry, asshole, you're three books too late.

My reaction/rants thoughts, SPOILERS BEWARE:
♦ Aelin♥Rowan = I SHIP THEM SO MUCH!
♦ Manon's grandmother NEEDS TO BURN IN HELL!
♦ Aelin & Aedion's reunion was EVERYTHING & MORE!
♦ Manon vs Aelin = EPIC EPIC EPIC!

All and all, QUEEN OF SHADOWS was AMAZING. I can't say there was really anything in it that dissatisfied me, with where the book went and the journey it took me on. I'm super excited to start the next book, but I need time to heal from this one, and plus I'm going to wait a while because the sixth and final book isn't out until MAY 2018! and I'm gonna maybe read this next book close to the end of the year so the wait doesn't seem so dreadfully long.

Review: Feversong by Karen Marie Moning

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 17:07:00 +0000

Title: Feversong
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever, #9
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: January 17, 2017
Pages: 541
Rating:

Black holes loom menacingly over Dublin, threatening to destroy the Earth. Yet the greatest danger is the one MacKayla Lane has unleashed from within: the Sinsar Dubh—a sentient book of unthinkable evil—has possessed her body and will stop at nothing in its insatiable quest for power.

The fate of Man and Fae rests on destroying the book and recovering the long-lost Song of Making, the sole magic that can repair the fragile fabric of the Earth. But to achieve these aims, sidhe-seers, the Nine, Seelie, and Unseelie must form unlikely alliances and make heart-wrenching choices. For Barrons and Jada, this means finding the Seelie Queen who alone can wield the mysterious song, negotiating with a lethal Unseelie prince hell-bent on ruling the Fae courts, and figuring out how to destroy the Sinsar Dubh while keeping Mac alive.

This time, there’s no gain without sacrifice, no pursuit without risk, no victory without irrevocable loss. In the battle for Mac’s soul, every decision exacts a tremendous price.

This is the first time I have really wanted to throw a Karen Marie Moning book acorss the room and rip it to shreds. I have to say that I was so disappointed in FEVERSONG that at one point I almost considered DNF-ing the book, but I wanted to finish to find out the outcome at the end. This book had many of the same problems that the 7th book, Burned had, but so much worse. Let's go down the line.

Sinsar Dubh. I hated the POV scenes with the Sinsar Dubh. To be honest it was ridiculous and the book kept saying the same shit over and over again in each chapter it was in.

Mac. I love Mac's POV. Always have. And it was interesting to see how the book possessing Mac was going to turn out and how she was going to beat it. So much happened with Mac thought like, what?

Barrons. This book was so bad, but it did provide a good ending for the Mac and Barrons relationship. In this book it seemed like they conveyed their emotions and feelings for each other so much more in this book. But as a whole, I still feel like we didn't get enough of them. I wish certain scenes were expanded on more.

Cruce. I find it so hard to believe that Mac didn't want to end Cruce as he was the last Unseelie Prince who raped her or that she wasn't more angrier than she was. I did end up falling a bit for him yet again. I will always love V'lane/Cruce.

Dani/Ryodan I feel like since Shadowfever there was so much hype on this relationship and by the end of the book you are so disappointed. First of all Ryodan seemed so absent from the book, Second of all Dani's childlike personality is back, Ugh. I just didn't like the development at all!

Now that I finished the book, I seemed to come out with more questions and now the series is ended. Like what the fuck?! Well, I guess I only have one. Is Jericho Barrons the fucking Unseelie King?! Mac and Barrons last scene in the book, it seriously felt that way. Oh and something else, even though I liked the previous book, I wish the spin off series didn't happen because it was one big clusterfuck. I liked being back in the Fever World, but expectations were just too high due to the original series awesomeness. I'm just really kinda annoyed at this point.

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 13:04:00 +0000

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Pages: 565
Rating:

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.

Okay. I just to have to say wow. HEIR OF FIRE was just so very DRAINING. I have to admit that I did not like this book as much as the other two books in the Throne of Glass series. To be honest IT WAS VERY BORING for the majority of the book. The second half was way better than the first half, but I put the book down so many times and it was so hard to get myself to pick it back up again.

In HEIR OF FIRE, Celaena is still recovering from the death of her friend, Nehemia. And she is now in the land of her Aunt Fae Queen, Maeve, who I might add is a bitch. Celaena is hoping to get some information from her, but in return she has to train with one of Maeve's Fae warrior's, Prince Rowan Whitethorn, to hone her fae magic and come to terms with her true identity as, Aelin Galathynius, Lost Queen of Terrasen. So begins the training from hell.

Obviously we have some new characters in this book.
♦ Rowan Whitethorn. Loved him. Okay, hateed him at first and then once he showed his self and his personality a little and opened up to Celaena, I totally fell for him. I am totally falling in love with too many Sarah J. Mass' men! Ugh!

♦ Then we have Aedion Ashryver, who is Aelin's long lost cousin and childhood friend. I HEART HIM SO MUCH! He is so loyal to his people and his queen. He has been through a lot and he better get his chance to reunite with Aelin and it better be EPIC!

♦ We also have Manon Blackbeak, who is a Ironteeth witch, heir to the Blackbeak Clan. And when she was introduced I screamed, BADASS IN HOUSE! You just don't mess with Manon! I'm really interested to see where and how this character develops in the upcoming books.

♦ And lastly Sorcha who is a healer in the Adarlan castle and is doing the nasty nasty with Dorian! lol!

My reaction/rants thoughts, SPOILERS BEWARE:
♦ Chaol Westfall. Oh, my god. #fuckhim
♦ Dorian & Aedion better be okay! Don't mess with my hunnies!
♦ The King has lived long enough. KILL HIM ALREADY!
♦ Chaol, Aedion, Sorcha & Dorian in deep shit. I FREAKING DIED!
♦ Calaena (Aelin) is a badass with her fae magic!
♦ I want to marry Dorian, Aedion and Rowan!
♦ Fae Queen, Maeve! #bitch #needstodie

But I really have to stop or I am going to write a book! HEIR OF FIRE had it's flaws, but it was still a pretty good read. The book was basically Celaena recovering from her friend's death and coming to terms with her past and readying to take a stand and reclaim her title, Aelin Galathynius, Lost Queen of Terrasen. It's obvious the next book is gonna be FUCKING EPIC! I'm excited to get my ass on Queen of Shadows.

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Pages: 418
Rating:

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Oh.my. FUCKING GOD! I am already a fan of Sarah J Mass after reading her Court of Thorns and Roses Series, but OMFG, THIS BOOK! Uh. Uh. I have no words! I am now officially on board with the Throne of Glass Series! I have to say this book was FUCKING EPIC!

In CROWN OF MIDNIGHT, Celaena is the King's Champion and it is revealed that she hasn't been doing any assassinating for the King. She has been faking the intended target's death, which is a dangerous game Celaena is playing. If caught, it could mean the death of her friend Nehemia, her family and Chaol. But then more shit happens, and then more and then what the fuck shit happens and then epic shit happens, ummm. yeah, you get the picture!

But anyways, I want to discuss! Dorian and Chaol! I love Dorian and I ship the hell out of him. #TEAMDORIAN! But I want to cry because it looks like that isn't going to happen. *pouts* I did not like Chaol in the previous book at all, in this book it just seemed like Celaena went from Dorian to Chaol is point zero seconds.

And this book screams #TEAMCHAOL. My thing is I don't hate them, but I don't love them either. I'm in the middle. And Chaol doesn't help his case by being so indecisive about Celaena. He has a thing for her, because under that assassin is this girl with a big heart. But he makes a point to note that she's a danger to Adalan everytime she does something that he doesn't approve of. It's annoying and that is not love.

My reaction/rants thoughts, SPOILERS BEWARE:
♦ Dorian has magic! YEEESHHH!
♦ Obviously, THE KING NEEDS TO DIE!
♦ So Nehemia obviously planned to die, right?
♦ Archer really played Celaena, Seriously?! And she almost decided to spare him, really?
Like Hell no! I got that impression.
♦ And also, Celaena is fae and kept that from us all this time? lol!
♦ And she know's she Aelin Galathynius, lost Queen of Terrasen?
♦ Oh, and at the end, really, Chaol? Why can't he just see through the King and what a danger he is to the world! I would only like Chaol if he kept his mouth shut, well, maybe not even then!

But anyways, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT was FUCKING LIFE! It was so freaking good! And I have to say I haven't read a good YA/NA Series is a LONG ASS FUCKING TIME, (not counting ACOMAF, b/c it's by the same author). I'm actually glad I didn't read this series til now because now I have 3 more books to enjoy and don't have to wait for them to release! HELL TO THE YEEESSSHHH! I love you Sarah J. Mass, thank you for becoming an author and giving me LIFE!

Review: A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Title: A Court of Thorns & Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns & Roses #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Pages: 416
Rating:

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Oh, jeez. Where do I even start? When I first heard about this book, I was super freaking excited to read it and when the reviews came rolling in I really wanted to read it, but I got to say this book was way over-hyped about. It was good, but not great. It definitely had great potential, but it didn't 'wow' me like I expected it to.

A COURT OF THRONES AND ROSES is basically the retelling of the classic, 'Beauty and the Beast' with faeries as a fantasy book. Which I freaking love faerie books, but I have had few luck to find one that had wowed me in this YA/NA genre. I'm not gonna go through the whole plot and whatnot, all you have to know is it somewhat follows that 'Beauty and the Beast' retelling.

I went from loving it from going bored out of my mind. Rinse and Repeat. This book reads at a slow pace for me, some some parts could've been cut out just so we could get to the damn point. I did get very bored quickly, but something got me to keep going to the end of the book. I am very intrigued with this world Maas has created and besides I have always been very into faeries and their stories.

Feyre is our heroine and she is a really tough cookie, but she did drive me nuts a bit. I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. She had a case of going into dangerous situations when warned not to. She got herself into two or three situations that annoyed me. As for our, fae high lord, Tamlin, I did like him. He definitely had that soulful personality to him. But I didn't necessarily feel for them. They were in love and they were hot, but they weren't epic or anything.

I basically felt that about the whole book. This book wasn't epic enough, but their love story did leave me wanting more. I am definitely intrigued by this story to want to indulge into the sequel, so I'll probably still read the sequel, because with that ending who wouldn't want to know what would happen next. I know I do.

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 01:39:00 +0000

Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: August 2, 2012
Pages: 404
Rating:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Well, basically I loved ACOTAR and had to read Sarah J Mass' other series, THRONE OF GLASS. I have to say it was pretty damn good. Dorian stole my heart in this book.

My Intial Thoughts after finishing THRONE OF GLASS:
♦ I love Celaena and her badass self!
♦ My heart belongs to Dorian!
♦ I could care less about Chaol!
♦ Duke Perrington NEEDS to DIE!
♦ The King needs to CHOKE on his own BLOOD

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Review: Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 14:42:00 +0000

Title: Magic Binds
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels, #9
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Pages: 384
Rating:

Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…

Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…

I caught Curran giving me an interested look. Was he actually ... Yep, he was checking me out. Yeah, where were you last night, buddy? I would've stayed awake ... Well, no. Probably not.

It is no secret that I am obsessed with the Kate Daniels Series and I was blown away how good this book was. Basically SHIT IS FINALLY HAPPENING! Can we all say OMFG! Give me more of this amazing series! I am so ready for more!

In MAGIC BINDS Kate and Curran are getting ready to finally have their wedding. Like actual wedding planning is happening, people! And people are driving Kate crazy, the usual! Haha! But Kate's father has kidnapped Saiman and Kate wants to get him back at any costs. Oh, and we have some development in the big reveal from the previous book, That means close your eyes if you haven't read the previous book!

Yes, he did. Oh he did. Now was really the wrong time to screw with me. My magic shot out of me. All of the anger I'd been trying to keep under the lid boiled out.

Kate finds out that Roland wants Kate's future child and she is going to go through hell and back to make sure that doesn't happen. So Kate basically needs help to defeat her father from..... *BEEP* (ummm...yeah, you didn't really expect me to spill, did you?) MAGIC BINDS was everything and more! Things I totally didn't expect happened and I loved it all.

We get to have Kate fighting her dark side, we get lots of backstory on Kate's ancestors (which I loved), wedding happenings, and just enjoying Kate and Curran. One thing was this book totally had the final installment feels, but it totally isn't and there's more! I get to enjoy! And the ending?! OMFG! Like I said, SHIT IS FINALLY HAPPENING! AND IT'S GETTING EPIC!

Review: Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Title: Beautiful Bastard
Author: Christina Lauren
Series: Beautiful Bastard, #1
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Pages: 305
Rating:

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

“I want you to watch. And tomorrow when you're sore, I want you to remember who did it to you.”

Okay, wow. I definitely did not expect to love this book because of all of the negative nancies out there, but BEAUTIFUL BASTARD was just the book I needed. Now this book was full of sex scenes one after another, and most don't like that, and sometimes I don't even like that, but there was just something about this book that rubbed me in all of the right places.

“Totally serious. I want to be the only guy who fucks you against windows, and also the first person you see in the morning-from where you lie, having stolen my pillow. I'd also like to be the person who gets you lime Popsicles when you've had bad sushi. We only have a few months left where it's potentially complicated.”

BEAUTIFUL BASTARD was a typical office affair. There is Bennett Ryan the asshole boss and Chloe Mills, the intelligent and capable intern who collide with each other and have really hot sex off and on and can't seem to stop and by the end of it all, fall for each other. Now this was definitely a guilty pleasure book for me, had everything I love in these types of books: lots of sex, public sex, hot alpha men, and dirty talking! HAWT! I loved it all!

"Oh, god, Bennett," she moaned. "Say something else."
Fuck. My girl got off on dirty talk.

Oooohhh! And I completely forgot to mention that this book is in both Bennett and Chole's POV! Yes! I love books in the guy's POV! But overall, I completely loved this book, the characters, the hot office affair and I cannot wait to read more from this amazing author! I have found a new favorite author! A new guilty pleasure author! See ya, now I'm onto Beautiful Stranger!

Review: Hell & High Water by Charlie Cochet

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:27:00 +0000

Title: Hell & High Water
Author: Charlie Cochet
Series: The Thirds, #1
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Release Date: July 06, 2014
Pages: 297, kindle edition
Rating:

When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley’s testimony helps send his partner away for murder, the consequences—and the media frenzy—aren’t far behind. He soon finds himself sans boyfriend, sans friends, and, after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, he’s lucky he doesn’t find himself sans teeth. Dex fears he’ll get transferred from the Human Police Force’s Sixth Precinct, or worse, get dismissed. Instead, his adoptive father—a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron otherwise known as the THIRDS—pulls a few strings, and Dex gets recruited as a Defense Agent.

Dex is determined to get his life back on track and eager to get started in his new job. But his first meeting with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who also happens to be his new jaguar Therian partner, turns disastrous. When the team is called to investigate the murders of three HumaniTherian activists, it soon becomes clear to Dex that getting his partner and the rest of the tightknit team to accept him will be a lot harder than catching the killer—and every bit as dangerous.

I had seen this book everywhere for a while and needs a new M/M book series, correction! a Fucking Fantastic New M/M book series.

There is so much I loved so let's break it down!
♦ A M/M book with Shifters! Hell to the Yah!
♦ Military Men! I love my men in uniforms!
♦ Lots of characters to fall in love with!
♦ Dex! Dex! Dex!
♦ Humor like this is always welcomed!
♦ The relationships!
♦ The sexual tension and HOT SEX!

There were only a few things I hated
♦ These racist bastards! (not gay racist, shifter racist!)
♦ The treatment of Dex in the beginning by new teamates!
♦ Dex's personality was different in beginning! (confusing)

This was great for the first in the series and I am really definitely looking forward to the rest of these books! Onto the next book....

Review: Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:43:00 +0000

Title: Feverborn
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever, #8
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: January 19, 2016
Pages: 436
Rating:

In Karen Marie Moning’s latest installment of the epic #1 New York Times bestselling Fever series, the stakes have never been higher and the chemistry has never been hotter. Hurtling us into a realm of labyrinthine intrigue and consummate seduction, FEVERBORN is a riveting tale of ancient evil, lust, betrayal, forgiveness and the redemptive power of love.

When the immortal race of the Fae destroyed the ancient wall dividing the worlds of Man and Faery, the very fabric of the universe was damaged and now Earth is vanishing bit by bit. Only the long-lost Song of Making—a haunting, dangerous melody that is the source of all life itself—can save the planet.

But those who seek the mythic Song—Mac, Barrons, Ryodan and Jada—must contend with old wounds and new enemies, passions that burn hot and hunger for vengeance that runs deep. The challenges are many: The Keltar at war with nine immortals who’ve secretly ruled Dublin for eons, Mac and Jada hunted by the masses, the Seelie queen nowhere to be found, and the most powerful Unseelie prince in all creation determined to rule both Fae and Man. Now the task of solving the ancient riddle of the Song of Making falls to a band of deadly warriors divided among—and within—themselves.

Once a normal city possessing a touch of ancient magic, Dublin is now a treacherously magical city with only a touch of normal. And in those war-torn streets, Mac will come face to face with her most savage enemy yet: herself.

Now I went into this book extremely nervous, because I hated the sixth book, and I neither liked or disliked the previous book. Basically the previous two books, weren't up to Karen Marie Moning Standard. But, now she has upped her "A" game. Finally, Karen Marie Moning is back!

FEVERBORN was 10X better than the previous two books, but there were still some things that needed work that made me drop a star, but still incredibly AMAZING! I think we're finally getting somewhere with the new story-line. Thank god for that because I was getting bored! And be Warned! This book is full of spoilers! No way not to review the book and not talk about them! Haven't read the book! Don't read my review!

Mac/Barrons Okay! So many people are getting sick of her, but honestly I'm not! I love that KMM switched these books to multiple POV's, b/c I Just love being in Mac's world and inside her head and probably b/c I get to see more of her and Barrons together. I was highly disappointed in the previous book w/the little Mac/Barrons stuff. But motherfucker we get so much more of it in FEVERBORN! I love their talk during sex! Yum! Thank you for that KMM!

Ryodan/Jada For the most part Jada aka. Dani is still being a little prick through most of the book. I would love for her character to develop more at a faster pace. By the end of the book, Jada had lowered that shell of her a bit and I loved what I saw, but I want more of that! And Ryodan! Since it seems like Barrons has softened a little bit due to Mac, I love seeing your bad ass, won't take shit from no one attitude! MOAR! And Ryo, That teddy Bear scene was HILARIOUS!

Alina Are you fucking kidding me?! Seriously?! The return of Alina is one thing I AM NOT ON BOARD WITH! We don't know if it's really her or what. It's assumed that without Mac's knowledge she brought back Alina from the dead with the help of the book. People die for a reason. It makes it seem like everything Mac went through in the original books aka. 1-5 was pointless and for nothing because everything she did was to avenge her sister! WTF?! Don't bring Alina back just for the sack of no more original plot/story-line! Her being back better have a point!

Now things I hated in the last book were addressed in this one. The multiple POV's? It was better this time. It was toned down a bit. We had Mac, Jada, Christian, Lor and Cruce. The only thing I didn't like is when I'm maybe invested with Mac the POV moves to someone else which is annoying. And some POV are all out of order, like one event happened, but then they switch to a couple of hours earlier or something. I didn't like that.

Now we ended the book with a cliffhanger! Not really a surprise, but I have to say at this point I'm kind of sick of it. Every single one of her books end with a cliffy and I'm kind of over it and I'm not gonna go crazy with them like I used to, because it just ends up taking over my life. And most of the time her books take forever to release. It's ridiculous! Though, with that ending, I'm really intrigued with what's gonna happen now with Mac and the book!

So, FEVERBORN was a thousand times better and a major improvement compared to the last two books! Thank god, KMM is back! Now I can go back to being excited about her books! Who knows when the next book is coming out, hopefully no longer than a year from now. But I"ll be reading it because I adore this series and the fever world!

Review: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 17:48:00 +0000

Title: Magic Shifts
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels, #8
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Pages: 352
Rating:

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…

I have to say for the record, I never in a million years thought I would be disappointed with a Kate Daniels book, EVER! I swear that 2015 is not my year. I have been disappointed in almost every highly anticipated book of 2015 on my list, but a few. I don't even know where to start with MAGIC SHIFTS. Basically I assumed this book would be different, I mean in the previous book, Kate met her father, Roland and she claimed the city. But, Roland demanded that she also could not be in a position of power that she gets by being the Beast Lord's Consort. So she needed to leave the pack, but she could not leave the pack and still be with Curran, because he is the Beast Lord, so he decided to leave it all. So in this book we are experiencing how it is like for Curran and Kate leading somewhat peaceful lives since the are not apart of the keep any longer.

“Why, of course, Your Majesty. What was I thinking? I will go and do this right away, just please don’t look at me.” “Kate, get in the car.” “Maybe you should growl dramatically. I don’t think I’m intimidated enough.”

Do I believe the book wasn't as great as the others because Curran and Kate were no longer apart of the keep? Yes and no. I think I was so used to the keep and Curran being Beast Lord. And I don't care what anyone says, Curran will always be the Beast Lord! I mean Kate still calls him, his majesty! I miss the craziness of a lot of the pack members you got in the previous book by driving Kate and sometimes Curran nuts. But we still get to see a lot of the pack members, because the do come and visit Kate and Curran. And anyone who decided they want to leave the keep with Kate and Curran may also do so. Everything just fell so out of place with this. I guess, I just don't like change. Haha!

What really had turned me off was the plot and storyline. A lot of the time it is the focal point of the book, so if the plot is no good, I have trouble even being interested in the book in the first place. This is the first time in a Kate Daniels book that I wasn't into the book because of the plot. It was so fucking boring that I found my myself skimming! Skimming a fucking Kate Daniels book! I don't do that! And this book made me want to do that! And I do feel like this book was a filler book. It felt like a filler book to me because of the nonsense of the plot and the plot had to happen to discover something that is vital to the continuation of this series. Oh, and what the fuck! Did Hugh get written out or something? He's mentioned, but I want my crazy psychopath back!

I would kill him. “Just so I get it right, Jim calls you and says, ‘Hey, we found a horde of ghouls in the MARTA tunnels,’ and your first thought was, ‘Great, I’ll take the kids’?”

But that does not mean that I did not like the book at all. I semi-liked it because I did love the character developments and great dialogue that Ilona Andrews is famous for. We got Kate, Curran and Julie trying the whole dynamic family thing. Cute. We had pack members who remain completely loyal to Kate and Curran still no matter who the new Beast Lord is. And Oh.my.god. (view spoiler) And I don't care what anyone says, the best moment in this whole book is when George (aka Mahon's daughter) and Curran totally BURN Mahon! He's finally getting a taste of his own medicine on how much a asshole he is! Oh, yeah! Like I said, Best.Moment.Ever. And we do get some Roland, like one freaking scene. Yeah, Daddy's crazy! And Kate finally finds out what he's after and she plans to do everything in her power to prevent it!

All and all, I did like MAGIC SHIFTS, but I didn't love it. I don't expect to love every freaking book in every one of my favorite series, there's bound to be some duds. This one wasn't freaking horrible, it was just okay and didn't pack the punch that the rest of them did for me. This one basically felt like a filler book and felt so unlike the rest of them. But it had great Kate Daniels moments and great dialogue. You'll still laugh and enjoy it. I just want the next one, because of that ending. Things are definitely getting interesting and I can't wait for Kate to grow stronger with her magic being a key factor.

Review: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:24:00 +0000

Title: Ride Steady
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Chaos, #3
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Pages: 640
Rating:

The ride of her life . . .
Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . .

Kristen Ashley is always a hit or a miss with me. But I have to say I am quite surprised that I freaking devoured this book. I'm not a huge fan of biker books. I have read a few and hated them, but there has been a few I have liked. And I didn't really like the first two books in this Chaos Series all that much. But, oh.my.freaking.god. This one was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

RIDE STEADY was so much more than a biker book. It was a story about two people with tortured pasts who have been in love with each other since High School and now it's there chance to finally be happy with each other. Carson Steele aka "Joker" had a abused childhood. Mother left early on and father beat him, abused him physically and mentally. His plan was to get out as soon as he could and he did and became part of Chaos.

Carissa Teodoro married the High School Jackass, I mean jock, had a baby boy with him and now she's divorced. He won't her at all and is fighting for custody, He's basically abusing his power his family has as a great lawyers. he cheated on her many times and left her for a model and now that she's with Carson he's trying to win her back just to win and prove to Carson that he can. Again I say, JACKASS!

It was lovely reading Carson and Carissa come together. It took a while. Carissa was the last person Carson saw before he left town all those years ago and upon meeting again she doesn't remember him. So he plans dumb, goes by the name Joker now and is very distant towards her even though she obviously wants to be with Joker. And even when they get together he still doesn't tell her that he is Carson. That was annoying. I thought he should've told her from the start. And he is so sweet too wanting to wait to have sex with her. Every time it's like she's the horny one wanting sex so bad. It was funny.

Anyway, RIDE STEADY was a very heartwarming story. It has your typical Kristen Ashley formula. Beautiful Heroine, Bad ass Alpha Hero, Funny as Hell & Nosy Family and Friends, and a Jackass Ex trying to screw up shit for the heroine. Books that end up loving by Kristen Ashley makes me so happy that she publishes more than 2-3 books a year. Thank god for that!

Review: Ball & Chain by Abigail Roux

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Thu, 28 May 2015 14:40:00 +0000

Title: Ball & Chain
Author: Abigail Roux,
Series: Cut & Run, #8
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: March 17, 2014
Pages: 288
Rating:

Home from their unexpected deployment, the former members of Marine Force Recon team Sidewinder rejoin their loved ones and try to pick up the pieces of the lives they were forced to leave behind. Ty Grady comes home to Zane Garrett, only to find that everything around him has changed—even the men he went to war with. He barely has time to adjust before his brother, Deuce, asks Ty to be his best man. But that isn’t all Deuce asks Ty to do, and Ty must call for backup to deal with the business issues of Deuce’s future father-in-law.

Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott join Ty and Zane at the wedding on an island in Scotland, thinking they’re there to assuage Deuce’s paranoia. But when bodies start dropping and boats start sinking, the four men get more involved with the festivities than they’d ever planned to.

With the clock ticking and the killer just as stuck on the isolated island as they are, Ty and Zane must navigate a veritable minefield of family, friends, and foes to stop the whole island from being destroyed.

Review: Burned by Karen Marie Moning

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Tue, 05 May 2015 14:08:00 +0000

Title: Burned
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever, #7
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Pages: 475
Rating:

It’s easy to walk away from lies. Power is another thing.

MacKayla Lane would do anything to save the home she loves. A gifted sidhe-seer, she’s already fought and defeated the deadly Sinsar Dubh—an ancient book of terrible evil—yet its hold on her has never been stronger.

When the wall that protected humans from the seductive, insatiable Fae was destroyed on Halloween, long-imprisoned immortals ravaged the planet. Now Dublin is a war zone with factions battling for control. As the city heats up and the ice left by the Hoar Frost King melts, tempers flare, passions run red-hot, and dangerous lines get crossed.

Seelie and Unseelie vie for power against nine ancient immortals who have governed Dublin for millennia; a rival band of sidhe-seers invades the city, determined to claim it for their own; Mac’s former protégé and best friend, Dani “Mega” O’Malley, is now her fierce enemy; and even more urgent, Highland druid Christian MacKeltar has been captured by the Crimson Hag and is being driven deeper into Unseelie madness with each passing day. The only one Mac can depend on is the powerful, dangerous immortal Jericho Barrons, but even their fiery bond is tested by betrayal.

It’s a world where staying alive is a constant struggle, the line between good and evil gets blurred, and every alliance comes at a price. In an epic battle against dark forces, Mac must decide who she can trust, and what her survival is ultimately worth.

I better get rolling on my review before it never gets written and while the book is still in my mind. BURNED took how many freaking years to write, two years or something and my most anticipated book turned out to be such a disappointment. Don't get me wrong it was still good, semi-halfway decent, but really?! This is the turnout of the book I was waiting so long for? I am so not impressed! I think my thing was compared to Fever books #1-5, this book was so different compared to those, that my expectations were so high. But it wasn't that bad. Let's just say it was half and half good and bad.

First of all when I first heard this book was going to half a dual Mac and Dani POV I was very excited, and also as well as Muliple POV's of different characters. We had Dani, Lor, Unseelie King, Christian, Kat. Either you know how to make the Multiple POV the fit or you don't. And obviously KMM didn't. It didn't work in her favor. The book seemed all over the place, with so much going on that it didn't not work at all and the book suffered because of it. Mac POV is the majority we get. And I have to say I probably wouldn't be able to get through the book if not for her. I love things from her perspective and it saved the book. Even with Mac being the center fold in this book, it still felt like it was all over the place and was a big huge mess with the POV's. And Dani? Really, KMM? How the hell can you say that the primary perspectives are that of Mac and Dani. Dani is basically in the first chapter and that's it.

The part of the book that really saved it all for me, was the second half, it was pretty awesome because you really get an inside look into Ryodan, Barrons, Lor and the inner working of Chesters and get to catch some conversation between the three which we probably never would've got. I mean, that is what I freaking live for. Learning more about the Nine. Please, KMM, keep writing more inside looks into the Nine. I need to know more about this mysterious group. And as a Mac and Barrons fan, I am disappointed with the so little interaction between the two. Out of the whole book, they had a few conversations. What the hell? Their whole Mac and Barrons dynamic that I loved in the Fever Series just disappeared. I just expected since they are finally together, we would get more, not less.

I suddenly can't find enough oxygen in Ryodan's office to breathe. My hand flies to my mouth as I stare, staggered.....

And oh.my.fucking.god. Please do not even get me started on that shit ass excuse for a cliffhanger. Really? You're gonna end it there? I know the next book is said to be out October of 2015, but come on. Do you honestly believe it will be out this year. Based on KMM, actions it could be out in the next two to three years. Who knows. With BURNED we were left with more questions than answers and incompleteness. At this point I don't even want to associate these spin off Fever books with my previous Epic Original Fever Series, but I have been nothing but disappointed thus far. I am begging. Please do not screw up Book #8! But me being me, I do have hope for the next book, even though this feels so different from the original fever series, I am open-minded for it being different and am excited to read more!

Review: Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 15:32:00 +0000

Title: Bound by Flames
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Prince, #3
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Pages: 342
Rating:

Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…

“You aren’t just my weakness, Leila.” Vlad drew me next to him, one hand sliding along my jaw while the other caressed my back. “You are my destruction, because if I were to lose you, it would finish me.”

I couldn't write my fabulous review without spoilers, so be warned. I swear the books in the Night Prince Series get better and better with every book. I am highly impressed. BOUND BY FLAMES has got to be my favorite in the series and at this point I am so glad that Frost decided to extend the series to one more book. Frost, let me tell you, just keep writing more, because you're doing awesome with the the World of the Night Huntress. I could definitely do with another book on Mencheres and Spade.

In BOUND BY FLAMES, Leila and Vlad and still on the hunt to find Szilagyi. Vlad finds out early on that Leila had been careless and reckless at one point to the hunt for Szilagyi and decides to permanently remove her from the situation, which enrages Leila. But eventually make up and finds themselves face to face with Szilagyi in the end only to find they have maybe an even greater threat than Szilagyi.

Compromise Lesson One: Pull a dick move, and your dick gets denied. Every woman knew that, and now, so did the vampire sitting next to me.

Like I said before this BOUND BY FLAMES was so freaking awesome. We have Vlad trying to protect Leila for her own good and her being angered by what he did. I understand both sides, but once Leila hears Vlad's side of things, she understands and forgives him. Awwwww. Vlad can be quite the romantic vampire. I just love how much he loves her and is willing to endure her anger and hatred if it means she is alive.

At one point Leila gets kidnapped yet again, Surprise Surprise!, and had to undergo the ultimate torture. I have to say, the torture really got me, it was sickening to read, it was like I had to close my eyes like I was actually watching it. And, (view spoiler) Szilagyi is one sick fuck! And another thing too, all of this was being video taped and sent to Vlad. Thank god, Vlad reaches Vlad in the end and a bunch of awesome shit goes down. Like I said, great book and looking forward to the conclusion to the, Night Prince Series.

Review: Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:35:00 +0000

Title: Burn For Me
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy, #1
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Pages: 384
Rating:

Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.

"Now I have something to prove to you," he said. "I promise you, I will win, and by the time I'm done, you won't walk, you'll run to jump into my bed."

I have been waiting for this book for so long and it's finally here and it was so good. I will read anything that Ilona Andrews writes, because the story is always amazing with great plot, dialogue and characters you will love.

In this new world, it is all about the magic and our heroine Nevada Baylor is forced to take on a assignment that is extremely dangerous and one where she may die where she is searching for fire starter, Adam Pierce, but if she doesn't she and her family loose everything. Mad Rogan is also looking for Adam for entirely different reasons. He kidnapps Nevada to gain any and all information she has on Adam, but Nevada is one tough cookie and won't give in to this man, and so they work together to get Adam Pierce.

“You seem to be under the impression that I work for you and you can give me orders. Let me fix that." I hung up.”

I loved our heroine Nevada Taylor, she the typical Ilona Andrews heroine. She's somewhat normal and would do anything for her family and to keep them safe, and she's totally bad ass at times. And wants to be with someone who loves her or will truly care for me, but she finds herself wildly attracted to Mad Rogan who she doesn't want to start a relationship with at all.Well, Mad Rogan plans to win that battle with Nevada and have her.

Mad Rogan is kinda a sociopath, but one of those good sociopath's you want to love. He has this idea where he does not follow the law. He basically is the law, if he decides someone is threatening him and he finds them annoying he will kill them, and that is not okay with Nevada. But in someway Nevada brings in strength and light to him in his darkest moments and he is very attracted to her and declares he will win her at any cost.

"I just realized I shouldn't be in the same vehicle with you. In fact, I shouldn't have called you in the first place, so I'm trying very hard to rewind time." He grinned. I"ve amused the dragon. Whee.

In Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels series I really enjoyed the run and chase, sexual tension, and "I will make you mine" part of the series, and I am looking forward to that in the Hidden Legacy series as well. For me, it's the best part of books like these. So I am being tortured waiting for next book in this series and I cannot wait to get more Nevada and Mad Rogan.

Cover Reveal: 3 New Titles!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 17:09:00 +0000

Awesome Thoughts

I am totally one of those people who hate it when we get different covers right in the middle of the series. Here is my thing. This is the thirdish - fourthish cover model for the Kate Daniels Series. Loved the first, but the previous ones with a little girl on the cover NO!!! I am happy with this new cover, even though she isn't how I picture Kate. LOVE LOVE LOVE! But OH MY GOD! They changed the little girl cover! YEEESSS!!! But now all the Kate books have 4 different models?! LOL.

Awesome Thoughts

Same deal with this one. This is the third cover remake. But I am okay with that b/c for one every cover redo they have done they have went through with the same cover design for all the books, so you won't have mixed book covers. Yah! This cover is GOD! FANGIRL SCREAM. I am not happy with Iced and Burned hot guy covers, they don't turn me on, they could've done those so much better. But Darkfever?! FUCK! I can stare at this one all day. They did an amazing job on it! I just can't wait to see the rest!!! Me being the crazed fangirl I am will end up buying all the fever books with the new covers too! LOL

Awesome Thoughts

I have always liked the covers in The Selection Series. They are all so stunning and beautiful and this new cover is no different. Sometimes you think there is no way they can top the look of the last cover and they do! What I would'nt give to try on one of those dresses. I don't know why they don't make this as a spinoff series though, b/c this book is not about Maxon and America, but about their daughter. But still looking forward to it! =)))

Review: Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 19:26:00 +0000

Title: Lethal Rider
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Lords of the Deliverance, #3
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Pages: 433
Rating:

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, ReganCooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted-a family.

“Kiss me?” There was a vulnerability in his request that had such a powerful effect on her that she almost choked up. In answer, she lifted her head up and touched her lips to his.

LETHAL RIDER was freaking AMAZING! It exceeded all of my expectations, but of course, how could Thantos not impress me. This book was full of complete EPIC-NESS! You will be AMAZED. I promise you that! LETHAL RIDER takes place about 8 months after Regan betrayed Thantos into having sex with her to get pregnant. Thantos has been in hell, held and unable to move by the hellhound saliva and does not know that Regan is pregnant. He only has hate for her betrayal and at his siblings for keeping him held down for the past 8 months.

“I have some more staff members to interrogate.” He winked. “I’ll try to keep their screams at a minimum.” Yeah, he really did have a quirky sense of humor. Especially because she had no doubt he was actually serious.

Thantos eventually gets free and comes after Regan only to learn that she is pregnant. He has all kinds of different thoughts and feelings on the subject. Firstly, a baby, a family is all he has ever wanted and he could never have. It seems like a dream come true except that the baby is his agimortus and may possibly be the key to destroying Pestilence. Thantos is determined to keep Regan and the baby safe at all costs.

“I wasn’t lying when I said you’d awakened something sexual in me, something that frankly scares the shit out of me. But that’s my problem, not yours. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

There were so many moments in the book where I was happy, sad, and angry with rage that it was so funny! Regan betrayed Thantos in the previous book and not only that, but she was going to give the baby to Kynan and Gem to raise thinking she won’t be a suitable mother. She has had a rough childhood. But my problem is that even more than halfway through the book almost that she is still talking about giving it to them. She is attached, and this is Thanto’s kid too, so he definitely has some say. I mean, the Aegis and her took like everything from him.

“Here’s how this goes. No Guardians. I don’t trust any of them, including you. You can have as much ice cream as you want. I doubt I’ll stop ordering you around.” He turned his face away and put his lips to her ear. “And you don’t get your own bedroom. You sleep here. With me.

I thought Regan had a lot of growing up to do in LETHAL RIDER. I liked her as the heroine, but I felt like she was a bit tortured as well and had a lot of growing to do as a character. Thantos was PERFECTION! We get to learn some interesting things about him and not that we didn’t already know this, but HE IS SO FREAKING SEXY! THANTOS IS A GOD! He is definitely my favorite Horseman of the Apocalypse. There were so many moments that I could just rewind and rewind and rewind!

“So ask me again why I’ll win a battle of wills.” “Fine.” She jammed her feet under the covers. “Why?” “Because I’m immortal and you’re a mere human. I have an eternity to out-stubborn you.”

Overall, LETHAL RIDER was JAM-PACKED with nothing but EPIC-NESS! There was so much that happened that I could not possibly explain it all in one single review. I must say this! If you didn’t already hate the Aegis, you will want to murder them and wish the most deadliest and most painful death on them! Trust me, you will! I speak the truth! I am really looking forward to Reseph’s book and I can already tell from the sneak peek chapter that it is going to be an amazing book.

TV Review: Outlander 1X06: The Garrison Commander

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 06:44:00 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="221"] Source: princejax[/caption]

OUTLANDER this week was so good. Finally we're back to stuff happening and it being all awesome. I am completely looking forward to more!

Full on Anger going on here!

It might have been awesome this week, but it was heartbreaking and makes you despise the person who was front and center this week, Randall. This whole episode was about Randall, which it was nice to dedicate an episode to him to get into what type of character he is more. He is evil and vile. And I am disgusted.

Many of you who have watched the episode probably won't want to relive the flogging scene. It was described as a flashback here and was horrid. I will only watch once. I won't watch it again, but my thoughts on it were that Jamie's back was already cut and damaged when he removes his shirt and he is still going to whip him and he does it to the point that Jamie may be on the point of death. Where his back is ripped open. I mean it seems like he is going to get to the bone. Ugh. Like I said I won't watch that again. UGh!

Emotions happening in this episode!

I hate how the red coats treat Dougal, much worse than Claire was treated earlier on. I have to say Randall gutting Claire and having one of his soldiers repeatedly kick Claire! I wanted to murder him. Thank god for you Dougall! Thank god for you! Dougal leaves with Claire but is told he must give claire up to Randall the next day to further questions her, well he actually means further torture her. Dougal test Claire for her truth to find out that she is truly not a spy and proposes she do what he says if she wants to be kept out of Randalls hands. He says she must marry Jamie. He opposes it, but she must if she doesn't want to submit to Randal again.

Finally the wedding is happening next!

I was kind of disappointed with this scene. I felt the whole episode was so dedicated to Randall, that the scenes with Dougall telling her she must marry and Jamie and her talking about getting married was done far too quickly. They should've ended it when Dougal telling her she must marry to give us more time, for the Jamie and Claire talk. I don't know. It just seemed like they zoomed through that scene too quickly. But even though I was horrified with this episode a bit. I loved it a lot more than the last couple of episodes. And finally Alas! the Wedding episode. I am so happy I can't freaking wait!!

Review: Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

noreply@blogger.com (Mariya) — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 06:16:00 +0000

Title: Shadow & Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha, #1
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Pages: 358
Rating:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

I have not read any Young Adult for at least a year, maybe even longer. I definitely wanted to get back to Young Adult, because I know there are so many great ones, not to be missed. To get out of my Young Adult reading slump I decided to go for The Grisha Series. I've been seeing 4-5 star reviews like everywhere, barely heard a bad thing about it. I was prepared to be amazed and I'm a hard cookie to please these days. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! Where has this book been on my life? Well, I guess on my TBR for the past two years.

SHADOW AND BONE has everything you are looking for in a Young Adult book! A strong heroine, epic fantasy setting, amazing writing and dialogue, all the main/side characters are awesome, heartwarming love interest story, and psycho psycho that you love to hate. Well, maybe I'm not usually looking for all these things in a Young Adult book, but I'm glad SHADOW AND BONE had all these elements! This story is about the greed for great power and using it to control and the world. We have the Grisha with special powers. Our heroine, Alina is a sun summoner which is really rare and she is the salvation of everyone, but The Darkling plans to use her to for his own personal plans. I'm not going to really go into summary mode, because it will probably take me all day.

I loved Alina. She was a strong heroine and was able to hide her Grisha abilities for a long time for the hope to stay with her childhood friend, Mal. But she ends up saving his life with her powers and gets found out and get taken to be trained with her new powers. The world of the Grisha was beautiful, but everyone has their own agenda, you can't really trust anyone. Although I didn't really get to get to know Mal too much until we got more than halfway though the book, I loved him and his gentleness and love for Alina. It makes you want to root for him.

Now, The Darkling. I hear everywhere that readers love him and consider this a love triangle between them and everything. And I just don't get where that is coming from. In the beginning we don't really know much about him. He is mysterious and that's what truly drew me in about him. But when we find out what his real agenda is and see how he truly is by the end of the book, I wanted to stab him in the eye. I have had my share of love interests that love the heroine but are really evil. From what I have read it seems like The Darkling's only agenda is enslaving Alina and he only wants her for her powers. But I have seen the cruelness and evilness in him. So, right now he isn't a love interest to me.

Right now at this point I have finished the book. Seriously you shouldn't read this book at work. It got so good, and then my lunch break was over. I ran into the bathroom to finish reading it. I got all happy and excited and angry and enraged and went into my fangirling mode! This was just one damn fine epic book. I'm glad I read it and I'm glad this is the book I chose to get my out of my Young Adult reading slump. And I am fucking starting the next book ASAP, because I just have to know what happens next. If you haven't read this series yet, do yourself a favor and read it.