Rating: B+
Synopsis:
Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer...
Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.
Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?
My thoughts on the book:
When I saw this novel on NetGalley, I was so excited. Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of my favorite series, even though a couple of the most recent efforts in Mercy's world have fallen flat for me. However, this novel was a refreshing change from the past few books. The action starts in the first couple of chapters and doesn't end until the very last page. Some of the new characters introduced were extremely interesting, and aside from Mercy randomly throwing in ridiculous words in an effort to prove she's intelligent, the writing was top notch. Fans of the series are going to devour this book.
Mercy is one of my favorite Fantasy heroines. She's tough, smart, and able to take care of herself. She has a man in her life because she loves him, not because she needs him to be fulfilled. She continues to grow throughout the series, but she doesn't change so much that the growth seems out of character for her. She has issues and PTSD and a bit of anxiety, but she overcomes that to help others. She's a great example of a flawed, but still wonderful and strong, heroine. Adam is a fantastic complement to her, and the way he's evolved over the series is also organic. I really like who he's becoming, and I love how Mercy has challenged him, and his whole pack, to open their minds and accept people for who they are instead of trying to change them. This novel illustrates more of that kind of pack growth, and I feel that it's much needed and really added to the tapestry of the pack and their bonds.
The world-building and descriptions were beautifully done in this book, but Briggs seemed so hung up on showing that Mercy wasn't an idiot that she used some really random, what I like to call "GRE words" to prove it... words that no one uses because you can express things in a much simpler manner. This hasn't happened in the past, and I'm not sure why it happened now. Those words really broke up the flow of writing, though, because even though I knew what they meant, as many readers will, they just didn't come across naturally. That was my main pet peeve with this novel and why it got a B+ instead of an A. The pacing was super fast, but not rushed, the story itself was well-told and interesting, and the alternating of action scenes vs. emotional scenes kept me emotionally engaged. The ending tied things up nicely, and after this book, I can't help but think that Mercy's story is about to come to an end. I feel like she's about to get things squared away enough that she can have her happily ever after. We'll see if I'm right or not, but that's the feeling that I got.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this series. I'd also recommend this series to anyone who loves Urban Fantasy with strong female characters. Briggs is an amazing author, and she will not disappoint.
Rating: A+
Synopsis:
For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...
Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.
But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…
My thoughts on the book:
This book is amazing! Marked in Flesh is by far my favorite Others novel yet. I absolutely adored the relationships formed as well as the new characters introduced. The plot was multi-faceted and completely engrossing. I was not bored for a single sentence while reading this novel. Bishop's descriptions were beautifully done, and I could fully picture this alternate reality of the world we know. Also, I felt that this book was telling the story of what's going on in our world as well as what's going on in the world of the Others. The bigotry and ethnocentrism are pretty much in line with what we're experiencing now, and I felt that these issues were addressed from both sides and really showed the problems with wanting to eliminate those who are different. I loved the first novel in this series, and liked the second and third books okay, but Marked in Flesh really stands out in the series and in Fantasy literature in general.
The new characters introduced in this book were so interesting. I can't wait to get to know more about Twyla, especially. She was so fun. Jesse and Tobias weren't new, but we got to know more about them. Tolya was another character who really grabbed me, along with Barb, and I hope we see more of them in the future. Each character, including secondary characters, had his or her own personality and was very unique. I love that about Bishop. She always lets her characters be themselves instead of trying to force them into boxes. Simon and Meg, of course, were fantastic, and they both grew so much in this novel, as did Vlad. I liked seeing more from the Sanguinatis' perspective because they're different from the vampires we know. Sam was present and adorably wonderful, and Hope and Jackson's challenges were sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes comical. It was interesting watching them learn to deal with each other.
The plot was fast-paced and full of suspense. The book started with a sense of foreboding, and that carried on throughout the entire story. Bishop did such a great job describing the different parts of the world. I could picture all of the different areas on the continent. Her descriptions of the Elders were fuzzy, but from my understanding, they were so horrifying that no one's brain could really register them fully, so I felt that the lack of description fit well with that. A lot of terrible things happened in this book, and there were parts that simply broke my heart. Other times, I wanted to cheer because of what happened, so this was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. The ending tied things up very nicely and opened things up for the next part of Meg's story. I can't wait to see how things change for her now.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone who loves Fantasy and Urban Fantasy novels, but is tired of the same old types of stories. Bishop really goes outside of the box with her characters, places, and plots in a way that's both refreshing and captivating. Well done, Ms. Bishop. Well done.
Rating: C
Release Date: 3/10/15
Synopsis:
Bad girls burn hot…
Red is the color of Kia Alcott's hair.
It's her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble.
And it's the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them.
When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It's an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood.
Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries.
But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn't stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…
My thoughts on the book:
I'm a pretty big fan of Alyxandra Harvey's work. I generally enjoy everything she writes, and this novel was no exception. However, a lot of things just didn't make sense to the point that I could achieve a willing suspension of disbelief. The characters, for the most part were too extreme in their actions, and those actions often vacillated between love and hate with no warning. The world-building was also lacking a bit because things just didn't seem to fit. I've come to have relatively high expectations from Harvey, and this novel just didn't meet them.
Kia was okay, but I kept forgetting her name (maybe because she's named after a car?). She didn't really stand out. She' was just your typical angsty teenager with authority and parental issues. Yeah, she could start fires, but not nearly enough was done with that. Ethan was also very typical. I mean yeah, he had secrets, but he was still just blah. He didn't intrigue me at all. Everyone else was as you'd imagine them. No surprises with the characters. I could have told you exactly what would happen with each character at the beginning of the book.
The mythological characters that existed were there for some thrill factor. Nothing was done with the mythology of these creatures. It wasn't mentioned at all. One creature had its origins mentioned, but no mythology to go with it. That really bothered me. The stories of these creatures would have been much better than just following along with distorted folk tale imaginings of them and throwing them all in one place. They were there for a shock factor, but nothing was shocking about it. I wish that Harvey had actually done some research on these creatures. It would have added a dose of much-needed reality. In addition to the weak world-building, all of the surprises weren't really surprises at all. I had them all figured out before I hit the 50% mark. The writing itself was good, and the book was enjoyable in a light, doesn't-make-you-think sort of way. However, this story could have been so much more.
I'd say if you're looking for a light, quick, read, then give this book a try. If you want something with some depth, then pass this one up. It's enjoyable enough, and it's cute, sure. It just isn't something that will stick with you.
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Rating: C-
Release Date: 3/3/15
Synopsis:
The Alpha and Omega novels transport readers into the realm of the werewolf, where Charles Cornick and Anna Latham embody opposite sides of the shifter personality. Now, a pleasure trip drops the couple into the middle of some bad supernatural business…
For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...
Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.
My thoughts on the book:
This novel was probably my least favorite book in the series. Normally I love the Alpha and Omega series, almost more than I do the Mercy Thompson series, but this book just really fell flat for me. The pacing was off, the plot was a bit dull (Briggs has done enough with evil fae, I'm ready for something new), and I just didn't feel a sense of urgency. It took me much longer to read this installment than it should have, as a result, and Anna and Charles didn't really stay true to character, which also bothered me. I'll continue this series, but I'll do so hesitantly.
Anna had baby fever in this installment, which made me lose all respect for her. Way to ruin a great character by making her conform to societal norms, Briggs. Charles was just dull, and the secondary characters didn't really stand out to me. None of them mattered. I didn't care who lived and who died as long as Anna would quit acting like a loser.
The plot itself read more like a kidnapping and murder mystery than a supernatural novel, and that bored me, oddly enough. I like the paranormal shows and books better than most murder mystery shows, but I usually like murder mysteries, too. This one just didn't grab me. I didn't care who was guilty. I just wanted it all to end. The pacing was really slow, and too much day to day crap was shown, in my opinion. I just got really annoyed by everything in this book. Even Briggs' writing wasn't up to par.
Overall, I'd say if you already started this series, then go ahead and give this one a try, too. Other people seem to like it a lot more than I do, so I must be in the minority.
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Rating: A-
Release Date: 1/6/14
Synopsis:
Willowgrove is Kathleen Peacock's riveting conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy, a dark, romantic, paranormal suspense series that pits friendship against survival, and trust against love.
Ever since Mac's best friend, Amy, was murdered, Hemlock has been a dangerous place. But now that Mac, her boyfriend, Kyle, and Amy's ex, Jason, have investigated a mass breakout from Thornhill, a werewolf "rehabilitation" camp, the danger has only grown. Fear of the infection spreading is now at an all-time high, and anyone with a scar is suspected of being a wolf.
What makes Mac even more afraid, though, are the dark experiments that the warden of Thornhill was performing on wolves in a secret asylum called Willowgrove. Uncovering the truth about what happened may be the only way for Mac to save everyone she loves and end her nightmares for good.
My thoughts on the book:
Willowgrove is an excellent conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy. Each of the characters evolved into terrific and interesting people. The story itself was full of action and adventure, with a side of romance. Relationships changed, betrayals happened, and none of the characters came out of this story unscathed. This book was full of many surprises, and Peacock's writing was captivating. I really enjoyed this entire trilogy.
Mac really shined in this novel. She became fiercely independent, but still caring. That's a hard balance to maintain, and Peacock handled it wonderfully. I really liked Mac as a narrator, and I was able to relate to her just enough to trust what she said. Kyle was a bit boring, in my opinion, in this novel, but I still liked him because he's such a good guy. Jason wasn't around much, but he really grew throughout the course of this book nonetheless. By the end, I could barely recognize him from the arrogant, selfish Jason that we first encountered in Hemlock. Serena also displayed a lot of strength. I really admired her. Amy's ghost/Mac's dream version of Amy also grew a lot, which was a nice surprise.
The story itself was fast-paced. One event after another happened that kept me turning the pages. Some truly awful things happened, and Peacock did an excellent job of showing what happens when hate, fear, and bigotry control a nation. It's important for us to remember that. This story definitely needed to be told. Aside from illustrating how horrific people can be when they're scared, this book did something that's almost unheard of in YA lit... it solved a love triangle without having a wishy-washy heroine or over-dramatic events happen to solve it for the heroine. Mac chose who she wanted on her own, and I loved that. I hate when authors take the easy way out of situations they created. I really loved the sci-fi spin on being a werewolf in this trilogy. That was unique. The fact that it was a disease instead of some paranormal manifestation changed a lot of things, and that was refreshing. The ending itself was conclusive, and I felt like that chapter of Mac's life had ended, but it was also open-ended. Mac hadn't made any definite plans for her future yet. Everything was still up in the air. I kind of liked that kind of ending. It left me with a feeling of hope for Mac and company.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and trilogy to anyone who wants a new spin to werewolf tales. This series is extremely entertaining and makes some really important points about society and how we can become better people. It's rare to find a book that can both entertain and make important statements. This is a definite must-read.
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Rating: C
Synopsis:
Jessica is on her way to Hell. After settling a fragile truce between the vampires, werewolves and witches, the last thing Jessica wants to do is face the demons head on. But when the Prince of Hell kidnapped her brother, he set into motion a chain of events that even Jessica doesn't have the power to stop.
Now, Jessica must go into battle again. But Hell is a whole new beast... new rules, more dangerous demons, and an entirely foreign realm. And when Jessica is dropped into the Underworld too soon, without protection or the help of her friends, she must figure out just how powerful she can be... or she will never make it out alive.
My thoughts on the book:
This is one of my absolute favorite Urban Fantasy series, and I was really looking forward to this book. However, Red Blooded wasn't half as enjoyable for me as the previous installments. It seemed like one of those books that needed to be created in order to progress the story to its next phase, but wasn't the best in the series. I have high hopes for the next novel, though, and I'm looking forward to it.
Jessica doesn't grow much in this novel. Sure she gains new abilities and a lot of things happen to her, but as a person, she doesn't grown a ton. Rourke is around, but he still feels absent in a lot of ways. I missed seeing a lot of the "regular" characters, like Marcy, since Jess was in the Underworld almost the whole time. Some of the new characters were interested. I hope we get to learn more about the Princess of Hell soon. For the most part, though, not a lot went on in the character department.
The plot was action-packed, but moved incredibly slowly. I felt like Jessica was going in circles for the majority of the novel, which was frustrating for me. I wanted the plot to advance, but nothing much really happened until the last 75% or so. The world-building was fantastic, though, and I could picture the odd landscapes of Carlson's Underworld. The ending was a cliffhanger, which irritated me. I felt like we could have cut out half of the Hell scenes and moved the plot forward more so that the readers could see what happened following the ending, but I trust that Carlson has a reason for writing the book the way she did. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next, either way.
Overall, I'd only recommend this book to you if you've already started the series and enjoy it. You'll need this one for the subsequent installments to make sense. I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Adult Urban Fantasy novels, though. Just because this book didn't blow me away like the others doesn't mean that it wasn't good, and the series as a whole is fantastic.
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Rating: A
Release Date: 10/8/13
Synopsis:
Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend missing and the most powerful witch in the country is blaming her for it. But before they can move to save her, the group is attacked.
On the run, Jessica and Rourke head to the mountains. Several surprises await them, but in order to save her father they are forced to leave for New Orleans early.
Arriving on the Vampire Queen's doorstep unexpectedly, and bringing trouble on their heels, the Sects are thrown into an all out war. The vicious
skirmish ends up forcing the vamps and Jessica to fight on the same team.
The Vamp Queen ends up owing Jessica, but what Jessica doesn't realize is just how soon she'll have to cash it in...
My thoughts on the book:
I had high expectations for Cold Blooded because every book in this series is better than the last. This installment did not disappoint! Aside from a couple of copy editing mistakes (copy editors seem to be getting lazy lately. Every book I read has mistakes), this novel is a perfect continuation of Jessica's story. We get to know more about our favorite characters while being treated to tons of action, romance, and adventure. Cold Blooded will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the very last, and you will be begging for the sequel when you are finished. This is one book you can't miss.
One of the things I love about this series is that Carlson lets us get to know all of the characters, including secondary characters. Every single character she introduces has his or her own personality, and is a well-developed individual. As the series progresses, Carlson tracks the growth of everyone, not just Jessica. That is not an easy task, and this really shows what a good writer Carlson is. Jessica is a fantastic heroine. She's strong, loyal, and caring. She hates killing, but she will do what she has to do to protect those she loves. However, she always feels remorse afterwards, even if she doesn't regret her actions. She's stubborn, but she also listens to others. She's well-balanced and likable. Rourke is an interesting male lead. As we uncover his mysteries, and we learn quite a bit about him this time around, he becomes more and more complex. While he is heartless in some ways, he shows a lot of heart in others. It's clear he really cares about Jessica, and I am interested to see how he evolves as the series progresses. Naomi comes into her own a bit more in this installment, and I enjoyed getting to know both her and Ray more. Ray is turning into an extremely interesting character, and I can't wait to learn more about him. Each character shines, and I love learning about them all.
This novel is tightly plotted, and there are no plot holes. The pacing is perfect, and the story itself is action-packed. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time because I knew every time Jessica got a moment's peace that all hell was about to break loose again - literally. Jessica has a lot of creatures gunning for her, and this leads to a lot of fight scenes and a sense of urgency that carries the reader from one attack to the next. Carlson does a good job of balancing character and relationship development with the action, which makes this novel very well-rounded. We also get introduced to some new creatures, which is nice. The world-building continues and is woven into the story perfectly. Carlson's writing is top-notch. The ending is a cliff-hanger, which I hate because I have no patience. However, I can't wait until the next installment.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to fans of Kelley Armstrong's the Otherworld series, Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series, Kim Harrison's The Hollows series, and Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. If you love good Urban Fantasy, then this is a series you don't want to miss.
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Thornhill
Kathleen Peacock
Rating: A+
Release Date: 09/10/13
Synopsis:
Mac can’t lose another friend. Even if he doesn’t want to be found.
The ripple effect caused by Mac’s best friend Amy’s murder has driven Mac’s new love, Kyle, to leave Hemlock and disappear from her life forever. But Mac knows that Kyle plans to enroll in a rehabilitation camp, where he can live with other werewolves. She refuses to accept his decision, especially since the camps are rumored to be tortuous. So she sets out in search of Kyle with a barely sober Jason—and Amy’s all-seeing ghost—in tow.
Clues lead Mac to find Kyle in a werewolf den in Colorado—but their reunion is cut short by a Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle are trapped inside the electric fences of Thornhill, a camp for young werewolves. As she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill—and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before.
My thoughts on the book:
Thornhill is everything second books should be: intense, action-packed, and suspenseful - while also standing apart from the first book in the series. The characters continue to grow and situations continue to change; however, Thornhill is nothing like Hemlock, though it is just as good (if not a little bit better). There's no murder mystery to be solved, and Peacock and the characters are trying to move on from the horrors of that first installment. This is one of the best sequels I've read in a long time.
Mac grows quite a bit in this novel, and she really does try to put others' needs before her own. I admire her for that and enjoyed reading from her perspective. She's brave and strong, but one of her mistakes kind of threw me. I'm interested to see how that will be dealt with in the next installment. I wanted to smack Kyle a few times, but he means well. He just doesn't always make the best decisions. He's loyal to a fault and tries to protect those around him. I'm definitely team Kyle. I like Jason, but he's just so selfish and shady. He's gotten better, but I just don't trust him. The new characters, such as Eve, are interesting, and I hope we get to learn more about them in the next book. All of the characters are unique and come across as "real," including the secondary characters. There are no cardboard cut-out filler characters in this novel.
Thornhill is a fast-paced novel that's chocked full of adventure, action, suspense, and bravery. There isn't a murder mystery to be solved this time, which makes this novel feel completely different from the last. However, there is a lot going on, and I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering who would and wouldn't make it out alive. Peacock also subtly addresses the repercussions of close-mindedness, blind faith, and bigotry. By illustrating that the people who are working to harm the werewolves are not necessarily bad, just misled, she shows that ignorance is damaging to those who are ignorant as well as the victims of the ignorance. Through Jason, Peacock also shows that ignorance is not a permanent affliction and that people can, in fact, change. I love that she addresses social issues and weaves them into the story without preaching or even inserting her opinion into the work. That takes skill.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to everyone who loves good paranormal YA literature. Peacock is quickly becoming a strong voice in YA literature, and you do not want to miss this rising star's work.
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Darker Days
Jus Accardo
Rating: A+
Release Date: 08/19/13
Synopsis:
Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...
When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.
Seven deadly ones, in fact.
They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...
There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.
My thoughts on the book:
Different from the typical YA Paranormal Romance, Darker Days brings well-rounded and complex characters, a unique and captivating world, and a suspenseful and intriguing plot to ensure that it stands out in an overcrowded genre. Accardo's witty prose and romantic tension add to the book's charm, making Darker Days one of my favorite reads of the year. If you're looking for a new, exciting, well-written read, then this book is for you.
Jessie is a strong, sarcastic, likable, and well-adjusted character. Even though she's far from normal and her dad is MIA, she's still happy with her life overall. Furthermore, Jessie is no-nonsense. From the first page, she introduces you to herself and her world with unapologetic honesty, which made me really enjoy reading from her perspective. She's not afraid to kick ass, and while more mature than many YA characters, she still acts like a teenager. She stands by what she believes in, and she will fight for what's right. More YA female leads need to be like Jessie. Jessie's MIA dad, Damien, is also a complex character. He's not a deadbeat like many YA fathers. He can't help being away. Also his relationship with her mother is complicated. Klaire, the mother, is pretty cool for a mom, but she still goes above and beyond to keep Jessie safe. Lukas is a tough and swoon-worthy love interest. He's more chivalrous than the contemporary man, but he isn't a chauvinist. He's very strong, both emotionally and physically, and he is willing to sacrifice himself in order to do what's right. Mr. Winkie/Smokey is also a favorite, and I hope I get to learn more about him in the next installment. He's a unique character (possessed Corgi who attaches himself to Jessie), and he has a lot of personality.
The concept of a paranormal detective agency isn't a new one, but a Pandora's-style box filled with the Seven Deadly Sins is certainly unique. How the sins react to their hosts isn't exactly original, the same thing was done on Charmed when a demon infected the Halliwells with sins, but the fact that the hosts can infect mass amounts of people is different and has very dangerous consequences. In fact, I couldn't put the book down because I didn't know what horrible thing would happen next, courtesy of the sins. The plot is full of twists and turns, and Accardo surprised me several times. The author's voice is strong and draws the reader in from the very beginning. Also, the ending ties things up nicely and thankfully isn't a cliffhanger. With a few of the things that happened throughout the book, though, it's clear that there will be a sequel. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an original YA Paranormal Romance with a humorous tone. There are some serious parts, but I laughed out loud more than once. Darker Days is a fun and suspenseful read that touches on the importance of family and the beauty of love. You won't want to miss this one.
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Kiss of Steel
Bec McMaster
Rating: A+
Synopsis:
When Nowhere Is Safe
Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?
Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.
My thoughts on the book:
Kiss of Steel completely blew me away. I picked up this book on a whim at my local library, and I was pleasantly surprised. I've been wanting a Steampunk read for awhile, and this looked like the perfect way to get my fix. McMaster has created an intriguing and captivating world with sympathetic and well-developed characters. The plot, while not overly mysterious, has quite a bit of action and a lot of suspense (a lot of which is sexual tension). Anyone who is looking for a good Steampunk Romance should give this book a try.
Honoria is a strong, yet vulnerable, leading character. Sometimes she irritated me with her stubbornness, but overall, I really liked her. I could understand why she behaved the way she did, though, and McMaster didn't overdo the defensiveness. Since the novel was told from a third-person omniscient perspective, I also got to know Blade very well. I absolutely adored him. He's a complex and intriguing love interest, and his loyalty is admirable. The POV even touched on the secondary characters some, which fleshed them out and helped me get to know them better. My personal favorites are Barrons and Lena. I'd also like to know more about Charlie, so I hope we see more of him in the sequels.
The world-building is fantastic, and I could clearly picture this version of London while reading the book As I said, the plot isn't overly mysterious. It's obvious who the bad guy is from the start, but there are still some surprises. There is a lot of suspense and tension throughout the novel, which kept me reading and engaged. The romance is touching and very steamy. The pacing is perfect, and the ending tied up Blade and Honoria's story very well. I can't wait to see what McMaster has in store for this group of characters next. I think the next novel is focused on Will (who is also extremely complicated) and Lena. I am checking Heart of Iron (the sequel) out from the library this week!
Overall, I'd recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a good, steamy, and unique Steampunk Romance story. You won't be disappointed.
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Beneath a Darkening Moon
Keri Arthur
Rating: A+
Synopsis:
Keri Arthur, the New York Times bestselling author of the Riley Jenson Guardian series, returns to the Ripple Creek werewolf reservation of Beneath a Rising Moon—where the past has come back with a vengeance to haunt a beautiful ranger.
Savannah Grant still harbors deep secrets and carries emotional scars from a love affair gone bad many years ago. She has tried to bury her heartbreak in her job as chief ranger of the Ripple Creek werewolf reservation. But now someone is murdering humans on her turf, and the pattern matches a series of deaths she witnessed a decade ago: the same year that she met—and lost—the love of her life.
The murderer seems to have risen from the grave. Then Savannah’s old love appears. Cade Jones is an Interspecies Investigation Squad officer, determined to catch the killer he let slip through his grasp once before—in part because of a bewitching young werewolf. Now, as moon heat reignites their desire for each other, Savannah and Cade are forced to come to terms with long-buried secrets—not only to stop a monster from killing again . . . but to give their promise to the moon one more chance.
My thoughts on the book:
I absolutely adored the first book in this series, but Beneath a Darkening Moon completely blew me away! I could not put this book down. I was up until 6am finishing it. Arthur is a fantastic writer, and her characters are believable. The narration is split between Savannah and Cade, and it works well. I liked seeing what each of them was thinking. The murder mystery really added to the suspense of the novel, and I had to figure out what, exactly, was going on. This is one book, and series, that can't be missed!
Savannah is a flawed, but wonderful leading lady. I really enjoyed reading things from her perspective. She has some trust issues, but her character evolves nicely over the course of the novel. She's not clingy and dependent on men, and I liked that. Cade is swoon-worthy, of course, and a great love interest for Savannah. He, too, is incredibly flawed, and sometimes I wanted to smack him. However, his heart was in the right place, and he really grew on me as the novel progressed.
The plots, both romantic and mystery, were seamlessly interwoven. Arthur kept me guessing, but all of the events made sense. Between wanting to know who was really involved in the murders and wanting to know what was going to happen between Savannah and Cade, I couldn't put this book down. The pacing is super fast, but nothing feels rushed. The ending wrapped everything up nicely. The writing was top-notch. I have no complaints about this novel.
Overall, I'd recommend this book, series, and author to everyone. If you want a sweet and steamy romance mixed with an edge-of-your-seat murder mystery, then look no further than Beneath a Darkening Moon.
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Werewolves be Damned
Stacey Kennedy
Rating: F
Synopsis:
Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.
Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.
But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.
My thoughts on the book:
I really wanted to like Werewolves be Damned. It was an awesome premise, and hot warriors in kilts coupled with shapeshifters, vampires, and witches, usually make for a good book, but the writing was just so BAD. Actually, it was awful. I honestly don't think I've ever read such horrible writing in my entire life. Also, the plot didn't make any sense. The characters were one dimensional, and there was no character development at all. This is a book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone. The only reason I finished it is because I was trying to figure out "wtf?" about the plot. Well, I never figured it out. Whatever.
Not only was Nexi dull, but she was idiotic and bratty. I wanted to smack her for the majority of the book. She was so freaking obnoxious. Kyden had potential, but he didn't have any personality or development. Therefore, I couldn't really attach myself to him. Haven was like a freaking cheerleader on crack, and Finn was some creepy silent guy. Everyone else was just weird, and no one had normal actions or reactions. I don't think I'd want to spend time with any of these characters, and I'm not happy that I wasted two days reading about them. I only have myself to blame for that one, though.
The writing for this book, as previously mentioned, was ATROCIOUS. The language was juvenile, the author over-explained everything, stated the obvious, talked in circles - stating the same thing twelve different ways, and simply repeated the same thing over and over with only a sentence in between. I don't know if Kennedy was trying to add length to this novel or what, but the excessive wordiness bugged the crap out of me. The book could have been about 200 pages less had all of the superficial words been removed. Some examples of the aforementioned offenses are: "Her shut mouth fell open." Obviously if her mouth was already open, it couldn't fall open, now could it? Also, the dialogue was awkward, and, at times, made no sense. Furthermore, Kennedy wrote some of the longest sentences ever created. I mean we're all guilty of run-on sentences from time to time, but this was unreal. I really hope a lot of this crap gets edited out before the final edition.
In addition to the writing, the plot was stupid. It made no sense. Why was Lazarus after Nexi? Well he wanted her power. Whoopie. Why not go after other witches if he wanted power? Wouldn't that have been easier? We never learned why Nexi. Anything that actually mattered in the plot remained unanswered. The few answers Kennedy attempted to give were incomplete and obviously not well thought-out. Also there was no big reveal because we know what's going on from the beginning. The "climax" part of the book was rather anti-climactic. It was just the world's longest and most boring fight scene. Since the characters seemed like cardboard cut-outs, I felt no attachment to them. They all could have died, and I wouldn't have cared. Therefore the fight scenes made were yawn worthy.
Overall, I'd say try this book out from the library before buying it. I really can't stand her writing style (or lack thereof), but some people really enjoyed this novel. If you do decide to give this novel a try, I hope you enjoy it more than I did. This is one author I'll avoid in the future.
House Rules
Chloe Neill
Rating: D
Synopsis:
In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.
At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal —tested like never before.
It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.
My thoughts on the book:
House Rules was a huge disappointment. After the past few books in this series, I didn't even have high hopes for this novel. I just thought it'd be an interesting and fun read. I was wrong. The Chicagoland Vampire series used to be one of my favorite series, but ever since Ethan died and came back, the story lines just keep getting worse. This one was the worst one yet. There was no character development. The pacing was slow as molasses. The plot was ridiculous, and a lot was going on yet I didn't care about any of it. This was just a bad book. I'll check out the next installment from the library, and if it's no better than this was, then I'm officially done with this series.
Merit has turned into a crying pansy. She got on my nerves so bad. She teared up at the drop of a hat, and more often than not, she just "didn't know what to do." Well you know what, honey? No one ever knows what to do in tragedies, but we make due. Merit needs to grow up since she's supposed to be 28 years old. Ethan was equally childish and jerky. I didn't even like him in this book. Also, his archaic relationship views were annoying, not sexy.
Speaking of characters, if Neill didn't insist on checking up on every single character she'd ever thought to create, then maybe the actual story could have started before page 75. The first 75 pages could have easily been condensed into 25, and there were other extremely useless scenes throughout the novel that completely messed up the pacing. Also, the first 75 pages were spent reminiscing about previous books. If Neill keeps this up, then before long she'll have entire books simply recapping the previous one and not adding anything new to the series.
In addition to the slow pacing, the plot itself was just stupid. I'm sorry, but if an author wants the reader to care about what's going on, then kill off a character we know. There are too many characters in this series anyway. It wouldn't hurt anything to lose a few. I knew that no one close to Merit would be hurt because if anyone close to her dies, they magically come back to life. Neill is obviously afraid to kill off any of the characters she knows, and that took away from the sense of urgency in this novel. Also, instead of witty, funny dialogue and intense situations, we now have idiotic, useless situations that do nothing for the story and cheesy, immature dialogue. I don't think I laughed once while reading this book. Merit's sarcasm resembled that of an 8 year old, and it just wasn't funny.
Overall, this book was just bad. The only reason I finished it is because I loved the first 4 books of the series and liked the previous 2; therefore, I plan to give this series one more try before officially breaking up with it. I know a lot of people enjoyed this book, but unfortunately I wasn't one of them. I'd say check it out from the library before buying if you haven't been a fan of where this series is going since Ethan died.
Frost Burned
Patricia Briggs
Rating: A+
Synopsis:
Mercy Thompson returns in the seventh novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…
After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.
Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.
My thoughts on the book:
I'm going to be honest. After reading River Marked last year, I really wasn't expecting much from Frost Burned. I'd love the series up until that installment, and I was highly disappointed. Therefore, I put off buying Frost Burned for awhile. When I started the book yesterday, I was afraid that it'd be another dud, but I was pleasantly surprised. Briggs seems to have regained her footing in this novel, and Frost Burned ended up being one of my favorite Mercy Thompson books to date.
One of the things I absolutely love about Patricia Briggs is that anything that's unique about Mercy isn't because she's Native, it's because she's a coyote shifter/walker. She also doesn't mess around much with indigenous politics or culture. Additionally, while the fae reservations are similar to what happened to American Indians, there is enough difference that it's not depoliticizing. She handles a really difficult and complicated topic well, and I love both Mercy and Charles (the two indigenous characters). Neither of them are stereotypes, and neither of them represent problematic ideals.
Moving on, Mercy is a fantastic character, and she regained her sarcastic personality in this book. She stands on her own and still makes her own decisions. Mercy displays excellent problem-solving skills, and she stands up for what she knows is right. She has evolved over the course of the series, though, and she does take others into consideration more often than she used to. I like that she's growing still, after six previous books.
Like Mercy, Adam is still changing and growing, too. My favorite part about this book is that we get some of the chapters from Adam's perspective. I had no idea how dark of a character he is. I just always saw him as a wonderful guy and a perfect match for Mercy. However, in this novel I learned that he has a lot of darkness within him. The way he sees himself is sad, and I hope that Mercy can help him work through that. Usually I hate changing perspectives, but it worked well in this book and helped me get to know Adam even better, which I loved.
Most of my favorite characters are in this installment, which was awesome. Other than a text from Bran, we don't get to hear from him or Samuel, though. I missed them, but I was also excited to have scenes with Zee, Tad, and Stefan. I'm a huge Stefan fan, and I can't wait to see what else Briggs has in store for him. Normally I like shifters better than vampires, but Stefan just won me over.
The plot is intense, mysterious, action-packed, and suspenseful. Mercy and company have to deal with a lot of personal demons as well as outer threats. I had no idea what to expect. Briggs just kept surprising me, and I couldn't put the book down. It's a fast-paced adventure and an emotional roller coaster. This book made me happy, sad, and frustrated all at the same time. There are also a few laugh out loud moments to break up some of the tension. The ending ties everything up nicely, but knowing Mercy as we all do, it's obvious that something else disastrous is just around the corner.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone who loves a good Urban Fantasy. Patricia Briggs is an amazing writer, and her Mercy Thompson series is one of the best. If you're a fan of this series but were put off by River Marked, don't worry. You won't be disappointed with Frost Burned. Give Briggs another chance. She'll make you fall in love with this series all over again.
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Prophecy Girl
Cecily White
Rating: A
Synopsis:
Amelie Bennett. . . . Ending the world, one prophecy at a time.
I was born to slay Crossworld demons.
Big black flappy ones, little green squirmy ones. Unfortunately, the only thing getting slain these days is my social life. With my high school under attack, combat classes intensifying, and Academy instructors dropping right and left, I can barely get my homework done, let alone score a bondmate before prom.
Then he shows up.
Jackson Smith-Hailey. Unspeakably hot, hopelessly unattainable, and dangerous in all the right ways. Sure, he’s my trainer. And okay, maybe he hates me. Doesn’t mean I’ll ignore the wicked Guardian chemistry between us. It’s crazy! Every time I’m with him, my powers explode. Awesome, right?
Wrong.
Now my teachers think I’m the murderous Graymason destined to bring down our whole race of angelbloods. Everyone in New Orleans is hunting me. The people I trusted want me dead. Jack and I have five days to solve the murders, prevent a vampire uprising, and thwart the pesky prophecy foretelling his death by my hand. Shouldn’t be too difficult.
Getting it done without falling in love. . . that might take a miracle.
My thoughts on the book:
Prophecy Girl stands out in the overcrowded YA market. After the first two chapters, it became clear that this is not just another angel book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the story, characters, and world that White created. Thanks to this series debut, I am now counting the days until the release of the second book in the Angel Academy series. I cannot wait to see what happens to Amelie next.
Amelie is more teenage-like than a lot of the leading YA characters that I've read, but not in a bad way. She's still strong and likable, though a little bratty at times. She just talks and reacts more like a teenager than an adult. I always find it odd how YA heroines usually fall on one end of the maturity spectrum. They can either appear to be way too child-like or way too grown-up. Amelie falls right in the middle and this makes her a very believable character. Also, she grows and grows up throughout the course of the novel, but it's clear that she still has more growing to do before she's reached her full potential. Overall, I liked her, and I enjoyed what White did with her character.
Since Prophecy Girl starts out with the prologue, which is the ending, I went into the novel expecting to meet Jack. I didn't expect what I got when I finally did get to meet him though. Jackson isn't your typical YA hero either. He really stands out, and I couldn't help but grow attached to him. He's a little snarky, but he's not a jerk. He does some jerky things, but it's clear that he's not doing them to be mean (you'll have to read the book to understand what I'm talking about here). He's also brave, loyal, and open-minded. He's one of the most complex and realistic male leads I've read in awhile. He's nowhere near perfect, and I loved him for that. The secondary characters are well-developed, too, and came across very realistically.
The plot is well-paced, intense, and emotional. While this novel isn't completely action-packed, it is suspenseful. White managed to keep me guessing throughout most of the book, and even when I managed to figure out one part of the mystery, she still threw me for a loop or two at the end. There appears to be some insta-love between Jack and Amelie, but as the story progresses, and as more of the world-building occurs and you begin to understand more about the bonding between Guardian and Watcher, it becomes clear that there is more to them than that. Also, Amelie doesn't get all "Bella Swan" about Jack, so even if it had been insta-love, it wouldn't have been annoying. What I'm saying is for those of you who hate insta-love, give this book a chance to explain. You'll be pleasantly surprised in the end. And speaking of the ending, it's not a cliffhanger and a lot of the issues introduced are cleared up, but there White left plenty of small unanswered questions and introduced some new ones for the sequel. I can't wait to see what happens.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and this series to anyone who enjoys good YA Paranormal Romance. This is one book you won't want to miss. White is an excellent writer, and there is enough mystery and intrigue to keep everyone interested. If you give Prophecy Girl a try, you won't be sorry.
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