Thursday 29 November 2018

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse So Dark and Lonely #1) by Brigid Kemmerer (Review)

       A fun retelling of the much beloved fairy-tale classic Beauty and the Beast, A Curse So Dark and Lonely is the first instalment in a fun fantasy story that plucks a modern DC, American girl and throws her into a fantasy world of Magic and Curses. Princes and Beasts. Knights and Enchantresses. They stole her, plucked her right off the street, they need Harper to break the curse, but she has bigger problems. Her bother is in danger with a gang, and her mother is dying of cancer. They need her home, and she needs to get home, the curse be dammed. The Prince and his kingdom be dammed. Harper is not going to take this lying down, and they can't let her escape, can't let her go home; because she is their last chance, and this is their last Season.
           A Curse So Dark and Lonely was really refreshing. I was getting a little tired of the Beauty and the Beast retellings (even though it is my all-time favourite fairytale), since they are all so predictable and cookies cutter, but this book really mixes things up. First, let's talk about Harper. Harper is a fantastic protagonist. She has Cerebral palsy and has a truly troublingly hard life. She is rounded but so, so strong. She is a genuinely great roll model and displays true strength of character. She was a treat to read about. Now, the concept of the novel. I loved it. I loved the plucking of a modern woman into a world of magic and kingdoms. It didn't overthink it or try to over-explain it, it just was as it was. I really enjoyed that. I also really enjoyed the side characters and was secretly rooting for the Knight instead of the Prince. He was just so sweet and honourable. Also this book really sets up well for a sequel or two, which has me interested in continuing the series. All in all, I really enjoyed A Curse So Dark and Lonely and give it the rating of FOUR AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

What the Woods Keep by Katya de Becerra (Review)

      Meh, What the Woods Keep was a very meh novel. It was okay. I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't love it. In a world with immense amounts of mystery and danger, Hayden is an 18 year old girl that is trying to make sense of the disappearance of her mother from many years ago. To do this, she travels to her old home town to investigate the woods where she vanished when Hayden was only a small child. There is something weird about the woods, about the town around it. As Hayden and her friend Del spend time there, things just aren't adding up. Vials of blood, weird girls, old prophesies and strange ravens. Each thing challenges Hayden's deep belief in the sciences, making her question her very sanity.
       I didn't love What the Woods Keep. The pace of the novel was way too slow, seemingly dragging along. I really wished the plot points would be brought closer together, because there were so many useless small things, I couldn't keep my mind on the story I was reading. The book has some merits, and an interesting mythical concept, but the execution was just lacking. I can't really recommend this What the Woods Keep because it was simply really, really boring. It also had many useless plot threads and things left unaddressed at the end of the book. If this was in a series that would not be a problem, but as a stand-alone, it makes the book feel incomplete. I give What the Woods Keep THREE AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Tuesday 27 November 2018

Cover Reveal: ECHO Academy by Christina Bauer!

ECHO Academy
(Dimension Drift, #2)
Published by: Ink Monster LLC
Publication date: April 28th 2020
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult
The second book in the new series from USA Today’s ‘must read YA paranormal romance’ author, Christina Bauer
Our heroine Meimi Archer has been assigned to attend ECHO Academy. There, the evil Headmaster believes that Meimi will help the government conquer other dimensions.
But Meimi has some very different ideas. She’s starting a revolution.
That is, if the Headmaster doesn’t find out and murder her first.
This new series is perfect for: fans of urban fantasy, action & adventure, cool science, evil corporations, forbidden romance and hot new classmates who may or may not be aliens.

Author Bio:
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!

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Book Blitz: The Viking's Captive by Quinn Loftis!

The Viking’s Captive
by Quinn Loftis
(Clan Hakon #2)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: November 27th 2018
Genres: Historical, Young Adult
Prophecy spoken.
Alliances broken.
Will duty come before love?
The Viking’s Captive is the exciting sequel toThe Viking’s Chosen by USA Today Bestseller Quinn Loftis.
Two worlds collide in this epic historical fiction centered on an undeniable chemistry that smolders against the odds. Richly written and injected with moments of humor, this action-packed romantic tale will leave you breathless.
Novels in The Clan Hakon Series Include:
The Viking’s Chosen (February 12, 2018)
The Viking’s Captive (November 27, 2018)
The Viking’s Consort (Fall 2019)
EXCERPT:
“If you vomit on my lap, I will most likely throw you overboard,” Dayna, my incredibly helpful sister, told me for the fourth or fifth time.
“If you hadn’t come running after me like a sodding fool, you wouldn’t have gotten yourself captured. Then you wouldn’t even be on this boat, and you wouldn’t have to worry about me vomiting on you, now, would you?” I asked as I clutched my midsection. My stomach seemed to think it should take its cues from the ocean upon which we sailed. It rolled and flipped just like the waves.
“First, if I hadn’t come after you, then that would make me a coward and not much of a sister, so that was never an option. Second, if I hadn’t gotten captured, then you would be all alone with no one to hold your hair while you vomit, now, wouldn’t you?”
“Do we have to use the term vomit in every sentence?” Hilda, the Hakon clan Oracle, healer, and Torben’s mother, asked dryly.
“Apparently, we do since you just used it yourself,” Dayna pointed out.
Hilda shot me a sly grin, with one eyebrow raised, asked, “You don’t mind if I just put a small hex on her, do you?”
“She is my sister, so I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Thank you,” Dayna said a bit smugly.
“But if you feel it’s absolutely necessary, I guess I could overlook it,” I added, earning me a pinch from said sister.
I had no idea how long it had been since Magnus, Torben’s jarl, had captured us. On one hand, he’d done me a favor. I certainly wasn’t going to have to marry Cathal now. On the other hand, my sister and I were now the prisoners of a man who was slowly losing his mind. I wasn’t sure which was worse, being married to a madman or being stolen by one. For whatever reason, I seemed to have suddenly become a hot commodity to lunatics. I chuckled to myself.
“Pray tell, sister, what is so funny?” Dayna asked.
“Madmen want me,” I said as I groaned and shifted my head, which was indeed lying in my sister’s lap, where I very well might have been sick at any second.
“Do you think she’s already delirious from being at sea?” Dayna asked Hilda.
Hilda snorted¾a most unladylike sound. “We’ve only been at sea for half a day at most. If she’s already delirious, then we are going to need to shore up her constitution.”
I was just about to tell her where she could shove her shoring up when I quickly covered my mouth and sat up. I refused to vomit. If I did, it would feel like Magnus was winning in some bizarre, silent game between the two of us. Once I was sure I could open my mouth without anything but words coming out of it, I addressed Hilda. “I am feeling more than just my own illness, worry, and fear.” I pressed my hand to my heart and rubbed it as if that could somehow remove the ache. “There’s a pain deep in my breast.”
Hilda nodded. “That would be the anchor bond between you and my son. You are feeling his worry and fear as well as your own. And knowing how deeply Torben feels anything, I imagine he is in quite a bit of distress, though he won’t show it on the outside.” She shook her head. “No, he’s a warrior through and through. On the outside, he will look as though he could slit your throat without a second thought. But on the inside, he is frantic to get to you.”
“Is that why you weren’t wailing about the possibility of Torben being dead when Magnus said he was?” Dayna asked.
“I would know if he were dead. A part of me would die inside as well.” I looked back to Hilda. “Will he kill Magnus?” I asked.
She nodded. “It is his destiny to become jarl of the Hakon clan, as it is your destiny to rule at his side. For that to happen, the old jarl must die. Magnus will never relinquish power willingly. Our two nations will grow stronger, not only because they embrace one another’s differences, but because they need new blood. Your offspring will be strong.”
The boat gave a mighty heave, and Dayna and I both nearly fell off the small bench upon which we were perched. Hilda didn’t appear bothered at all by the motion. She noticed the expression I was giving her and shrugged.
“I’ve lived at sea a long time. She and I are well acquainted.”
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn,” Dayna said, gripping the seat beneath her as though it might try to toss her into the bottom of the boat, “but your life has been about as fun as a house rat’s on cleaning day if you’ve spent that much time on the ocean.”

Author Bio:
Quinn is an award winning author who lives in beautiful Western Arkansas with her husband, two sons, Nora the Doberman, and Chewy the Cat who thinks he's a dog. She is the author of 17 novels, and 2 novellas, including the USA Today bestseller, Fate and Fury. Quinn is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

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Saturday 10 November 2018

Enchantée by Gita Trelease (Review)

     A magical and, honouring the name, enchanting tale, Enchantée was a fun time to read. It's the story of a poor young lady in pre-revolution France, Paris specifically, named Camille Durbonne. Camille and her siblings are impoverished after the traffic death of their parents, and in an attempt to pay rent, get her sisters medication and put food on the table, she turns to magic; specifically, a magic that stems from pain and sorrow, that eats away at the magician. Using her magic to slip into the court, she gets sucked into a world of excess and gambling, and has to figure out how far is too far before she gets caught, or the magic takes too high of a tole. All the while, her heart is taken for a ride with a sweet hot-air ballooning aristocrat, who poses the risk of figuring out her disguise and risking everything she has worked for.
     I really enjoyed Enchantée. I have been in a bit of a reading slump recently, but this book was just the pick-me-up I needed. It was in a new setting from the one I am used to and it had multiple fascinating premises. I was not expecting much from this novel, since I don't love political court dramas, but I found myself happily engrossed in it. I really liked Camille and her sister, and constantly found myself deeply empathizing with them and muttering my encouragements to them aloud as I read. They, like every single character in this book, were incredibly well rounded and developed. The plot was constantly developing in some manner or another and it felt like there were no wasted moments in this book, which is fantastic. When I put down the book I found I was very satisfied with it, and was proud to have an ARC of it in my collection, which is awesome. All in all, I really recommend Enchantée and give it the rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Angel in Crisis (Louisiangel #4) by C.L. Coffey (Review)

    The fourth instalment in the Louisiangel series, Angel in Crisis continues on where Angel Tormented left off. After defeating Asmodious, one of the two Princes' of Darkness, Angel and Cupid have a lot on their hands. Managing the convent is not easy, especially with having a messy relationship with the run-away cherubs. To top it off, with Michael dead, everything is unguided and without direction. This leads to absolute chaos and a lot of hard work for Angel. With Lucifer on the prowl and planning some mysterious and terrible thing, being distracted and busy can be a very dangerous thing indeed.
    Yah, this instalment was fine. I mean, I am beginning to grow a little board with the series, and Angel mainly, but it delivers a story roughly equivalent to the previous two in the series. I really don't have much to say about this novel except that is was mediocre and that if you love the series, you will find no issue with Angel in Crisis. Also, the romance with Joshua is really starting to feel dry and disinteresting. Since the romance was what drew me into the first novel, I am debating whether or not I want to continue this series. I guess we'll see won't we. Also side tangent, I found how this series deals with deaths sometimes to be weird, and makes characters feel overly emotional and under emotional at the same time. That's just a random thing I noticed. Anyway, all in all, Angel in Crisis was okay and I give it the rating of FOUR STARS OUT OF FIVE!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Thursday 8 November 2018

Shifters and Glyphs (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2) by Christina Bauer (Review)

       Another instalment in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, in Shifters and Glyphs, the story continues where Bryar Rose and her mate, Knox, continue their hunt for the fountain of magic before it is too late. As Bry tries to translate the egyptian runes from an ancient text, a new enemy enters the ring with aim to get the magic Bry is chasing after. They follow her through her dreams and wipe her memories in the morning. 
       It was fine. The writing style was fairly consistent to the first book in the series, the characters were still developing, which was nice, and the story expanded the world and added to it. My only real reservation about this book was that I got bored. It was unfortunate situation, but I just didn't feel drawn into this one and just didn't fall in love with it. I'm honestly not sure why, but I just am not pumped over this book. It hits most of the notes, but was just missing something. That extra push/hook that would really have helped this book over the hump, but in the end, I felt Shifters and Glyphs was just fine and give it the rating of FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Tuesday 6 November 2018

The Dysasters by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Review)

      A new novel by P.C Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast, The Dysasters is a story of super-powered genetically altered teens that control elements and are trying to escape a mad scientist. A super-hero story without any actual heroism, this book doesn't really seem to know what it wants to be. This book is seriously lacking in development or meat so I'm just going to jump straight into my opinion on it.
     I did not enjoy this novel. The art was pretty and the concept was interesting, but everything else was pretty bad. The plot was rushed, underdeveloped and uninteresting, and the exact same thing can be said about all of the characters in this book. To get the amount of development this story needed while keeping its drawings, it should easily have been double, if not triple, in length. This book, in just text, is the length of a medium short story, and most of the pages are just fluffed out with drawings. Even while being short, it was a tedious book to read. Its characters are seriously underdeveloped, and it feels like a wanna-be graphic novel. One that was unwilling to put in the extra effort of actually drawing all of the panels. This book wanted the same kind of rushed intros with no descriptors that come with graphic novels 
(because the graphics can pick up the slack), without drawing the actual panels for it. It also wanted to be a book while demanding to control how you picture the characters with its own visuals, which most novel readers passionately hate. The Dysasters has a major identity crisis on what it wants to be, a graphic novel or a regular book. All in all, I did not like The Dysasters and give it the rating of TWO AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5) by Roshani Chokshi (Review)

      A compilation of mid-sized short stories about the characters in The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes, either continuing their stories or going back in time and telling stories from before the events of the novel. My favourite story is the first one, Death and Night. It gives much wanted context from what happened before the events of The Star-Touched Queen. It was a sweet and incredibly magical romance that warmed my heart and re-invigorated my love for the characters. This book in a final toe dip in this incredibly magical world for all of the fans who miss it.
        I loved this short story compilation. Before this point, I hadn't had a very good experience with short story compilations, finding them unpleasant, boring and disrespectful to the original series; but Star-Touched Stories felt really well done and honouring to the stories it is based off of. I found I sincerely enjoyed the short stories and felt refreshed by reading it. I was left wanting to go back to the original series and re-experience it. Anyway, I really enjoyed Star-Touched Stories and I give it the star rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*