Book Review: Oath of Destruction by Jennifer Anne Davis

Oath of Destruction by Jennifer Anne Davis

Reign Publishing (c) 2018

Fantasy

ARC ebook

Reviewed by Leah

Oath of Destruction on Amazon

This is it. The finale.

It is everything I wanted, to be honest.

There's more Allyssa and Kerdan. We see more of Savenek fitting into his role. There are more encounters with Mayra. The BEST encounters with Neco. And the development of a family as it absorbs its missing piece.

And when you're not fangirling over the characters, the book manages to do a great job of wrapping up the plot line as well.

Everyone has a comeuppance. And the royal family of Emperion is not above aiding in the endeavor.

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Anchor (c) 2011

Paperback

An Original Fairytale

Reviewed by Leah

The Night Circus on Amazon

There are few books in my life I have considered a favorite before finishing. They are so few that I cannot recall which book last made the list.

I will not forget this one.

To give it one word of perfect praise it would be this: Enchanting.

To add more, I would say: atmospheric, comforting, passionate, humble, lyrical, and beautiful.

For more words that would better help you determine your likelihood of reading it, I will explain what little my mind can conjure after leaving the circus.

This is a book for dreamers. It is a book that does not depend (almost at all) upon its characters. While the challenge begins with Celia and wraps around Marco, it encompasses a creation all its own. And that's what the circus is: its own.

Normally, you can categorize a book based upon if it is plot-oriented or character-centered. This is the first book I have ever come across that discards both and has a deep-rooted setting base. You are here for the circus. Marco and Celia's stories are certainly interesting, but between the moments when they are on screen, you are living for their own love letters. That love letter happens to be the circus. Every tent, every attraction, every design is a signature from one to the other and that is what captures you as a reader.

If you are a person who prefers fast reads, this book is not for you. If you are a person that does not savor the tiny details, this book is not for you. If you are a person that likes action with their romance, this book is not for you.

If you are a person that enjoys the enigmatic pull of marvelous prose woven into exceptional scenery while being caught up in a love letter of epic proportions...

Then welcome to The Night Circus. Opens at Nightfall. Closes at Dawn.

Book Review: Oath of Deception by Jennifer Anne Davis

Oath of Deception by Jennifer Anne Davis

Reign Publishing (c) 2018

ARC e-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Oath of Deception on Amazon

(Review copied from elsewhere, so forgive the ugliness of the text.)

This was the perfect continuation of this series!

Taking place alongside the events of CoD1, this book introduces us to Savenek. Immediately, we feel as robbed of this person as Allyssa was. As a character, Savenek proves to be creative, skilled, pragmatic, and stealthy. He also has a few familial traits we have come to know and love over both the True Reign series and Reign of Secrets. Most of that comes in the form of a confidence that borders arrogance, dedication, the desire to constantly improve, and an intense loyalty to his nation. While we could always debate nature vs. nurture, they were qualities that allowed the reader to feel the connection to his family.

What I also enjoyed (probably the most) out of this book was the relationships between the characters. To say more would be edging into spoiler territory, and I don't want to rob anyone of the pleasure of a first read. So, suffice to say, I enjoyed the different natures and discoveries you make about this particular cast.

One of the other unique parts of this book is this: it could stand alone. As of right now, if you picked up book 4 and didn't have access to books 1-3 of the Reign of Secrets series, it wouldn't hurt you. Yeah, you might not understand most of my review then, but that's the beauty of it. If you started with Savenek and then went back to Allyssa, it wouldn't harm you. Savenek is his own person and his stories stand alone, just like Allyssa's did. And I absolutely love it.

That said, it is an adventure you're in for. There's no resting for the wicked in this book. Trained as an assassin, Savenek is sent on his first solo mission, and things are not at all what he expected. There are new dangers, new enemies, and secret alliances that are cause for concern. And Savenek wants to take on them all...

The pacing is quick and absorbing and enjoyable. I've always been a fan of Jennifer Anne Davis's skill with the written word, and this one does not disappoint. So set aside some reading time and dive in!

Book Review: Cage of Destiny by Jennifer Anne Davis

Cage of Destiny by Jennifer Anne Davis

Reign Publishing (c) 2017

Paperback

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Cage of Destiny on Amazon

While I usually always write my own summaries for books I'm reviewing, there's one line from the publisher-provided summary that I absolutely adore:

She can either embrace her destiny or be caged by it.

No sentiment could be more perfect for this book.

Summary:

Allyssa is a survivor. After the horrors of Russek and nursing a broken heart, she is at last given a choice: She doesn't have to come home.

The decision to walk away and lead a normal life is a tempting one, though it means leaving behind everyone and everything she has ever known or loved. Unfortunately, Allyssa is hardly given time to consider it before her past crashes into her present once more.

Now, everything she has left behind is everything she must run back to if she hopes to eliminate her enemy once and for all.

If the choice is between saving her kingdom and saving herself, Allyssa will never have to choose.

Review:

It is always hardest to review books that you like. This is because your first response is to tell everyone everything that happens. Which, in a review, is probably the rudest thing you could do. So I will refrain as much as I can from the gushing.

That being said...

This was perfect!

It is as character-driven as the rest, and it puts a lot of things into perspective. (For Allyssa and the reader.) This is Allyssa's "I'm figuring shit out for myself" book. She knows who she wants to be as a person and leader, and she's figuring out how to become that person. It's a wonderful transformation to watch as she puts her priorities in order and goes about figuring out the rest. She is every inch her mother's daughter, and I adore her for it.

Since I don't want to spoil anything, I'm just going to drop some tiny little hints:

Kerdan is back.

Odar is back.

Darmik and Neco are back with their epic bromance!

Nathenek is back to his sneaky, sneaky ways.

Probably the best cast of all the books, to be honest. It's a good time. You should read it. *wink, wink*

Okay, I digress. (But seriously, go read it.)

Book Review: Grayghost by Tamara Grantham

Grayghost by Tamara Grantham

Crimson Tree Publishing (c) 2018

ARC e-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Grayghost on Amazon

This is the last book in the Olive Kennedy, Fairy World M.D. series. You may commence crying.

Summary:

Theht is gone, but so are the portals. For the past four years, Olive Kennedy has been separated from her husband and deprived of the life she was meant to have in Faythander. But at least she didn't destroy the world, right?

Desperate to get back to Faythander, but also pay her bills, Olive has teamed up with her ex, Brent Sanchez, to solve crimes of the more ... unusual sort for the Houston P.D. When one of their mysteries lead them to a broken mirror with traces of magic, Olive is all over it. There's a darkness growing stronger in Faythander, and it's beckoning her home.

Review:

Okay, I can't do a real review because spoilers. While I would love to break down characters and plot and setting, I feel like I have said it all before.

Faythander is one of those magical places that, once you've read about it, makes your everyday life on Earth sorrowful. Does collecting these books count as a symptom of having been to Faythander and needing a half-elf to come diagnose me?

As far as the characters here, they hit you with all the feels. There are so many emotions rocking through you during this tumultuous time, and yet you can't give up on them. We've got new friends, old enemies, and a love story that defies all the odds. I am honored to have endured such grand adventures with such a worthy group.

Alas, at the end of the day, this was a finale. All of the loose ends have been tied, the plot holes filled in, and the mysteries solved. Now it's time to set it aside and enjoy the memories of our Faythander days. For this wonderful marvel is everything we could have wished for the ending of Olive Kennedy's story.

Book Review: Conquering Fate by Jennifer Anne Davis

Conquering Fate by Jennifer Anne Davis

Reign Publishing (c) 2018

ARC e-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Conquering Fate on Amazon

This is it. This is the end of the Order of the Krigers Series. It's been a long time coming.

I can't even write a decent summary without it feeling as if I'm spoiling the book. Which means my chances of having a full, coherent review come out of this is also slim.

So we're going to put some bulletin points on this:

* Kaia is sacrificing everything to save Nelebek

* Morlet and Kaia have new shared experiences that draw them together

* Morlet puts Kaia in several more inexcusable positions

* The history of the Heks is very much a part of the present

* Everyone is keeping secrets from everyone else

I can't say more without giving away major plot points, and I don't want to spoil this for anyone. This book is exactly what it needs to be in order to wrap up the Order of the Krigers. It is a solid conclusion. Character arcs come to a close. The plot wrings out the last of its tears. And you're left with a slightly lighter heart once you reach that final page.

With engaging writing and a well-known cast, we've finally finished a journey.

Book Review: Deathbringer by Tamara Grantham

Deathbringer by Tamara Grantham

Crimson Tree Publishing (c) 2017

ARC e-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Deathbringer on Amazon

Okay, so I can't do a normal review on this, because of reasons. That being said, I'm going to do my best. (However, I still require a moment to say: LOOK AT THAT COVER! ISN'T IT PURRRRTTTYYY?)

If you've been with Olive on this long journey, then you understand the title and what that means for our heroine. Will she destroy the world or won't she? A prophecy spoken ages ago declares that billions will die at her hands, and it just may be true.

Theht is coming. Olive is more aware of it day after day, and her ability to hold off the goddess diminishes at the same rate. Yet, her stubbornness isn't dead yet, nor is her determination to save everyone she loves from disaster.

There may be a sword for that. And she kind of owes Kull a new one, anyway.

What it means, however, is that she will have to travel to lands unknown and hope Theht doesn't smell blood in the water.

With all of that in mind, I don't think I was expecting the amount of adventure I found in the book. I mean, I should have known better, but I guess I wasn't expecting a trek into enemy territory in search of a druid and a sword. Which made me all the more anxious every time something (invariably) went wrong. With the anticipation heightened due to the title name and the very real consequences that I knew were to unfold, every moment before then just upped the ante for me.

It was fast paced and involved a lot of emotional pull. Having been on this journey with Olive all through the previous books, the realities of this one hit you hard and fast, and it's liable to break your heart.

You are forewarned.

Book Review: Cage of Darkness by Jennifer Anne Davis

Cage of Darkness by Jennifer Anne Davis

Reign Publishing (c) 2017

ARC e-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Cage of Darkness on Amazon

This is a book that doesn't deceive.  There is evil in this world, and Allyssa is unfortunate enough to meet some of the worst of it.  It is also a reality in which she learns what it means to be powerless, but not helpless.

Summary:

Ambushed on the road to Fren, Allyssa and Odar find themselves the responsibility of the lone assassin that had haunted their steps.  He is a clever man who sees much more than they could wish, and whose threats drip with promise and an eagerness to follow through.  It is from him that Allyssa is given a startling revelation that fractures what little trust she has left.

Dragged across the country, innocent facts pile atop the others as the mysterious assassin takes them deeper into enemy territory.  Crossing the border into Russek seals Allyssa's fate, and she knows that she would rather die than be used to harm her parents or her country.  Though a prisoner she might be, she's still willing to fight.

A choice that is taken out of her hands by a charismatic maneuver by Prince Odar.  He swore he would do anything to keep her alive; he didn't say it wouldn't hurt.

Trapped in this world of darkness, Allyssa's hope is as transparent as glass, but it's still sharp enough to cut through the despair.  All she has to do is hold out for something.  Or someone.

Allies are found in the most unlikely of places, and they bring offers that sound too good to be true.  They usually are.

Review:

Powerless, but not helpless.

The thing I admired most about the True Reign Series was that Rema never accepted the role of a damsel in distress.  While she did need rescuing, it wasn't without her trying to help along an active escape.

Her daughter is the same kind of human being.  Allyssa knows she's in trouble, but she's got the skills to get her out of it.  All she wants is an opportunity.  Throughout this entire book, she actively seeks it.  She's a survivor; not a victim.

Granted, there is turmoil here.  There are several subplots that slip and slither throughout the main storyline, and they enhance everything about her situation.  Secrets meet reality in harsh jabs, sharp barbs, and a few wicked truths.

With the new and chaotic character dynamics exposed like a raw nerve, Allyssa's control over the situation is all but gone.  Then she makes a new ally and reality begins again to shape to her will.

To be fair, there's not a lot I can say without giving away too much.  This novel is fast-paced, addictive, and full of character.  You will feel.  Anger, frustration, hurt, relief, elation, and shock.  Allyssa's rollercoaster is also the reader's.  And it is a rollercoaster.

As with its predecessor, Cage of Darkness focuses most of its energy on its characters.  If you're looking for a massive, complicated plot with pawns moved about on a board into the situations that are the most exciting, this book is not what you need.  This one is for those of us that want to get into the skin of a single narrator and feel every sharp stab that the writer inflicts on them.  (Ms. Davis inflicts a lot; you've been warned.)

This book is about learning who can be trusted and what you're most willing to sacrifice.  In times of war, the answers may surprise you.

Book Review: Silverwitch by Tamara Grantham

Silverwitch by Tamara Grantham

Crimson Tree Publishing (c) 2016

ARC e-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Silverwitch on Amazon

Pretty, pretty cover!

Summary:

Olive has saved Faythander quite enough.  So what's one more stop-the-world-from-ending quest?  It's more than she bargained for.

Taking refuge in Earth Kingdom after the unexpected ending of the bloodthorn, Olive has been dealing with a lot.  Which is why she has avoided returning to the place of her birth for so long.  There are secrets she would rather not share, and realities she would just as like to avoid.

All of which comes crashing down when Fan'twar, her dragon step-father and Sky King of Faythander, knocks on her door and requests that she go on an Arthurian-type quest for a magick weapon.

There's just one problem with that request.  The weapon they need is guarded by Silvestra, the silverwitch dragon.  In a race against the elves, Olive and co. will be hard pressed to retrieve the weapon and make it out alive.

At least Olive is used to desperate times and even more desperate measures.

Initial Thoughts:

Olive has the worst luck.  I mean, really, she does.  This poor girl.  On the plus side?  More adventures for us in Faythander!  I'm game.

Characters:

Olive is still an emotional wreck.  This time it has nothing to do with Kull, and everything to do with an evil Goddess invading her consciousness.  With visions of her destiny taunting her, it's all Olive can do not to push away those who care about her, while still clinging to the hope that she will prevail.  This new adventure only adds to her worries, however, as she faces a dragon with a penchant for riddles and the daily reminder that she could lose everyone she loves.

Kull is King, and he's got problems.  The stability of the Wult Kingdom is fracturing as the conflict with the elves grows closer and his own people begin to turn against him.  All the while the poor guy is just trying to help his girlfriend save the world.  Again.  But new realities settle into him this round and a true fear takes root inside of him.  Thanks to the Silverwitch, Kull changes right before our eyes, and it's heartbreaking.

Also, Heidel has her own things to work through in this storyline, that we thankfully get a closer up view of in the novella Goblinwraith.  I encourage you all to go forth and read it.

Plot & Setting:

We get to see a lot more of Faythander this time as we're dragged around by light rail to the desert country known for nefarious deeds.  We're also uncomfortably aware of our imprisonment in the Silverwitch's castle.  Oh, and a brief glimpse of the much-changed-since-we-first-saw-it capital of the elves.  Lots of hopping around here, and it's all as fantastic as the previous books have led us to expect.

That being said, there's not a lot I can give you about the plot without spoiling all of it.  However, I was pleased.  It was fast-paced.  Olive's luck is awful.  Kull's works desperately to balance it out.  And heartbreak occurs.  All as we've come to expect.

Writing Style:

I will say it with absolutely no shame that I am in love with Ms. Grantham's writing.  Her characterization is always spot on and she keeps true to the reactions her characters have for the situations they find themselves in.  I'm also never given a moment to take a breath as her pace keeps pushing us forward, looking to overcome the next obstacle.  It is a style that I appreciate a lot in my fantasy and why I keep coming back to her books time and again.

Overall Opinion:

Silverwitch kept digging claws into all of the sensitive parts of me, and I enjoyed it.  These books make you endure everything Olive is going through, and they feel no qualms about taking your emotions along for the ride.  In this one, it introduces new fears to our beloved characters as well as to the readers.  Olive's destiny is drawing closer, and everyone is looking to change it.

Book Review: Burning Shadows by Jennifer Anne Davis

Burning Shadows by Jennifer Anne Davis

Reign Publishing (c) 2016

ARC E-Book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Burning Shadows on Amazon

Isn't this cover gorgeous?  I prefer it over the cover for Rise, actually.  This one has more of the right feel to it.  Less ... fantastical.  This portrays the grittiness to come, and I really enjoy that fact.

Summary:

The Order of the Krigers has risen.

King Morlet is determined it should not be for long.  Desperation claims the vile King and he begins to raze villages to the ground in the hopes to destroy the lengthy network of supporters the Krigers have gathered.  All the while, his plans for Kaia grow even more sinister.

The symbol on Kaia's bo staff means choice.  And there is much for her to choose from.  When it is revealed that she must bear a child before Morlet can be destroyed, she is uncertain who the father is meant to be: her fiancé, Vidar, or his brother.  All the while she attempts to stifle her feelings for the assassin, Anders.

Just when it feels as if she has no choice in the matter at all, she finds that she has the biggest decision yet to make: Give up a part of herself to save the kingdom, or let Nelebek remain beneath the dark reign of Morlet.

It is a question that will define her, and decide the fate of a nation.

Initial Thoughts:

I was so geeked to pick up where Rise left off.  You know, considering that cliff we were left hanging off of...  The minute I got Anders and Vidar back was almost orgasmic.

Characters:

Kaia has grown up, for the most part.  She is a being who questions everything, because no one is being straight with her.  There is also a compassion to her that is less annoying and more relatable in this book than in the last.  We also have far less TSTL moments, so I didn't want to strangle her nearly as much.  As far as her development, I feel like we're still in the middle of her character arc, so I'm just hoping it improves even more come the next book.  Overall, we connected far better in this book, which I was thrilled about.

Anders is my sweet little assassin baby and no one can convince me otherwise.  While I still think he deserves better than Kaia, what he deserves more is a happy ending.  There are a lot of trials for Anders in this one and it makes it so difficult to bear.  His interactions with Kaia were exactly what you expect from him, and that made it equally heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Vidar and I were fighting in this book.  I mean, I understand his pragmatism.  That doesn't mean I had to like it.  In this book you get a far clearer image of what goes on in his head, and the sacrifices he's willing to make for his people and his nation.  And while they are powerful motives, it feels like he doesn't follow through with the right conclusion all the time.  Considering his character, however, I understood the decisions he made and I still love him as a person.  Faults and all.

Krigers are badasses.  End of discussion.

Morlet ...  gah it's so easy to hate him, but then there are those moments that you're no longer sure where Morlet ends and Espen begins.  It makes it difficult.  Very, very difficult.

Plot & Setting:

If you've read Rise, you know the setting.  And frankly, I'm in too much of a hurry to move on to the plot to waste time explaining it.  There's a map.  You'll figure it out.

Now, the plot followed a bumpy road.  What I mean to say is: subplots exist here.  And we have to follow a few of the subplots in order to propel us into the larger framework.  I. Freaking. Love. That.

Because of the subplots, we get answers to questions that plagued us in Rise.  We are introduced to new characters and the hint of possibilities.  There are more joyous moments that cushion your heart for the heartbreaks that follow.  And they offer an expectation as well as an offer.  Those subplots are the reason Kaia needs to continue.

It was brilliantly done.

Writing:

There's a reason I come back to this author's work.  It is un-put-downable.  Once the story captures you, there's nothing you want more than to just curl up in a warm blanket and read the day away.  (Or few hours.  Depending on how long it actually takes you.)  I love how compelling the writing is, no matter which of her books I pick up.  That is truly the mark of powerful storytelling to me.

Overall Opinion:

Vast improvement over Rise.  Hands down.  Everything seemed to come together more naturally and the character development kept me totally invested.  Good book.

Book Review: Time Warper: Fated by Peggy Martinez

Time Warper: Fated by Peggy Martinez

Clean Teen Publishing (c) 2015

Kindle Edition

Urban Fiction

Reviewed by Leah

Time Warper: Fated on Amazon

This book and I had zero chemistry.  That saddens me.

Summary:

When Sage Hannigan picked out the pendant in a little store, she had no idea that she was picking out a key to her own powers.  A dream-filled night full of sleepwalking soon lands her in the early 1900s with no idea how she got there.  Thanks to a sudden rescue from a vampire attack, she's introduced to a group of people eager to inform her of the world she's entered.

Sage is a Time Warper, and she's got a big event to deal with before she can make it home.  Dealing with a certain Head Vampire as well as several other preternatural creatures isn't easy, yet it seems far more simple than trying not to fall in love with a man one hundred years in her past.

Initial Reaction:

This book and I lacked chemistry so much that I put it on hold for months after getting only 4% into it.  Though the beginning of the book offers action and mystery, it did not hold my interests.  This is the type of novel I believe you have to be in the mood to read, or else your experience is far less enjoyable.

Characters:

Sage Hannigan was a hit and miss for me.  She had snarky, lippy, sarcastic moments and thoughts that I enjoyed to the fullest.  What she also had was a tragic, touched-upon history that I barely paid attention to.  She also had an incredible ability that she worked hard on controlling that wasn't nearly as cool to see in action as I hoped it would be.  Along with the fact that she has an instant attraction to one man right off the bat.  Add in another 'bond' with a vampire and my feelings for her hit a straight 'meh' streak.  For the most part, there wasn't anything really wrong with Sage, but nor did she inspire me to continue her journey.

Dr. Aldwin Blake felt like an archetype.  There was very little personality to him, in my opinion, other than what we see in several other YA novels.  He was scarred (physically as well as emotionally) and moody throughout much of the novel.  Many of the tender moments he had with Sage gave us very little in the way of his personality or allowed the reader to know why Sage felt so strongly for him.  And the moments that could have given us bigger clues were given more as snapshots instead of as full scenes.

Elaine is one of those characters whose last name I can't remember.  She's a strict, take-no-prisoners, dedicated member of Cerebus–a secret society keeping the preternatural world a secret.  It is her job to train Sage how to fit in with early 1900s society.  With rogue vampires on the loose, her stress level is a little high, and so are her expectations for Sage.

Travis and Phoebe are also cohorts in this little mission, but damned if I know more about them than key plot points that I don't feel like spoiling.

Soren is perhaps one of my more liked characters.  He is a head vampire that knows a thing or two about the way the world works.  His is a cool, calm facade equalized by his passionate nature.

Plot & Setting:

This is a first person perspective novel, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of setting.  What I was treated to, however, felt authentic.  It felt like a girl got dropped into another century and had no way to figure out what in the world was happening.

As far as the plot goes, I felt like it was predictable.  Not in a way that I knew everything that would happen next or even that it felt regurgitated from every other YA novel.  There was just a feeling that, when I was reading it, there was no suspense to it.  The love interests were predictable.  The ending was predictable.  Much of the storyline gave little to feed the imagination.

Writing:

I don't know what to say.  I think the best made up word I can say is: unengaging.  Despite the action scenes, or the emotional ones, I never felt invested in the story.  The writing didn't draw me in, but it also didn't repulse me.

Overall Opinion:

Meh.  I think this is a clear lack of chemistry.  Do I think other people will like it?  Yes.  Should you try it for yourself?  Absolutely.  I just think you need to be in the mood for this.  Even when I was enjoying the book, I still wasn't invested.  So this is something you really have to decide for yourself.

Book Review: Bloodthorn by Tamara Grantham

Bloodthorn by Tamara Grantham

Crimson Tree Publishing (c) 2016

ARC E-book

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Bloodthorn on Amazon

This cover does not disappoint.  I am content.

Summary:

After ten months of nursing a broken heart, Olive Kennedy no longer believes in fairy tales.  Which would be just fine, if the fairies didn't arrive on Earth with the tale of a creature no one is certain exists.  A creature that feeds off of dark energy, and might be a shapeshifter committing the murders of Olive's unique set of clients.

Working at the Texas Renaissance Festival in the hopes of scraping together enough to live off of, Olive never expected for bodies to drop in her lap, Fairies asking for her help on the recommendation of her stepfather, the Sky King, or that her ex––King Kull of the Wults––might be playing bodyguard to her royal guests.  None of which will cease plaguing her life until she retrieves the Fairy Starstone––an object that absorbs all of the dark magic uttered by Fairies, so that they can cast nothing but good, pure spells.

As the death toll rises, and a new drug reveals itself in every case, Olive learns that this mysterious creature, the bloodthorn, has set its eyes on her and her magic.  Feeling like a piece moved about on a game board, Olive knows that not all is as it seems, but she can't figure out how to break the pattern.

Even Kull's luck might not get her through this time.

Initial Thoughts:

Well, I mentioned the cover, right?  Okay, then we're good there.  My initial reaction was, of course, utter glee that I was able to read this as an ARC.  Then it was a whole new refreshing experience being able to immerse myself in the Olive/Kull/Faythander adventures once more.

Characters:

Olive is an emotional wreck in this installment.  If you've read Spellweaver then you know why.  She has good reason to be angry all the time.  Even if it does last ten whole months, and her employer is beginning to question her ability to help clients when she's so unwilling to help herself.  Add a dash of magic disobedience, and she's not in the best of moods.  Throw in the man who broke her heart and another demand to save Faythander, and Olive is a little on the weary side.  And it brings out a whole different woman than the one we've dealt with before.

Kull has also undergone dramatic psychological shifts in the past ten months.  So much so that the people who once worshipped him now avoid him like the plague.  Having inherited the crown of the Wults, he has to think politics all of the time.  Though being on a rough-and-tumble adventure for the sake of the Fairies, it brings out a little more of his old self.

(As a nod to a brief side character that I am praying I see more of, I'd just like to say that Grandamere is fabulous!)

By the way, I am waiting for Brent to reveal his bad guy status.  Even though he might prove to be an ally at some point, and not all that evil, I still dislike him.  Very much.  For eternity.  I don't care how much he proves me wrong.

Plot & Setting:

The setting is once more basking in Texas while melding with Faythander.  Wherever Olive is, you're there.  You feel the change when she goes from Earth Kingdom to her home world, and it's the little things that let you journey with her.  Setting is very important, and this is always done well in these books.

The plot here was very specific in what it had to do, and it did it.  As Olive followed her leads, she did so with a single-mindedness of a desperate woman.  The answers she needs are within reach at all times, and she knows it well.  Of course, there are also new questions that need answering by the time this journey has reached its end.

Writing Style:

I chose to do a reread of Bloodthorn while I was coming off of an Ilona Andrews binge.  Wise move on my part.  While the voices are different, there is a bit of a similarity in style that made this the perfect 'hair of the dog'.  Olive could have been best friends with some of the snarky, witty, ferocious women in the Andrews universe.  Though there are so many darker moments in this book than in previous experiences, Olive still has a witty retort, or exacerbated remark at hand to fight back.  Even when she is struggling, it is always with the idea that she'll keep moving forward.  It is a style of writing and characterization that I absolutely love.

Overall Opinion:

This book offers more sides to both Olive and Kull, and even a few side characters, than we have previously seen, which brings with it a whole slew of emotions.  The adventure and mystery surrounding them carry the reader away and leave them hungering for more.  It is a book I very much enjoyed, and one I will always recommend.  (After you read the first 2.)

Book Review: Rise by Jennifer Anne Davis

Rise by Jennifer Anne Davis

Month9Books © 2016

ARC Ebook

High Fantasy

Review by Leah

Rise on Amazon

Look at that cover.  Commence drooling.  Wipe mouth.  Continue reading.

Summary:

When the balance of the world shifts, something must always occur to restore it.

In the case of the nation of Nelebek, things took a turn for the worse when Morlet, a man with dark magic coursing through his veins, takes the throne.  His power is menacing and his reign is full of desperation.  Yet, out of the dark, there must be light.  This comes in the form of the Order of the Krigers; twelve warriors who come into their own powers at the age of eighteen and whose shared destiny is to combine with each other and their weapons to kill the king.

For over a century, the Krigers have been hunted by two sides.  A mysterious assassin and his friend are alone in their knowledge of what must be done to aid the Krigers, and so they search for any they can get to before Morlet's guards.  After so long, the King has become aware that the powers of the Krigers will endure, no matter how many he kills.  So he has begun to imprison them, in order to kill all twelve as they are linked, destroying the Order of the Krigers forever.

Morlet has eleven.  There is only one left.

Kaia didn't mean to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Yet, it was during a public execution that she comes face to face with the dark and powerful ruler of Nelebek.  And when she meets his eyes, an ancient power rises in order to combat his own destructive magic.

Now, she must decide whether or not she will accept her destiny, while learning what all that entails.

Initial Thoughts:

I'm not going to lie here, Kaia and I did not get along.  I yelled at her throughout the entire book.  Despite her, however, it was not a trying read for me.  Mostly because the secondary characters were this book's saving grace.

Characters:

Kaia and I are not compatible creatures.  When it comes to a moral compass, you'd never be able to find someone so pure and naive as Kaia.  Despite her father's wise teachings and relentless training, Kaia still doesn't have what it takes in her to be a warrior.  Not at heart.  She also lacks the inherent suspicion of other people that keeps most of us alive on a daily basis.  Common sense is also something she is sorely lacking.  And as the assassin, Anders, would happily point out: she can't keep her mouth shut.  Even/especially when it matters most.  Out of the 19 pages of notes I took while reading this book, yelling at Kaia comprises of 95% of them.  I wanted to kill her myself, she was so TSTL (too stupid to live).  I'm not sugar-coating it; there were several times that she should have died, and didn't only by the grace of amazing secondary characters.  Her innocence is the kind reserved for a child growing up in a loving home, and has no business being in a sixteen-year-old who was trained to fight since she could walk.  There is no excuse for that level of naiveté.

Anders was a badass.  He was funny and boyish at times, while being stubborn and fierce when needed.  There were a few mood swings of his that seemed odd, but were pleasurable to experience.  What I truly enjoyed about Anders, however, was that he was a contradiction of emotions and actions, but he allowed nothing to stand in the way of his objective.  Even Kaia's whiny savior-complex.  Though he feels guilty about the lives he takes, Anders knows that there is no choice but to take them, and he doesn't hesitate.  He pays the price for what he does, but he doesn't display it for everyone to pity.  For that, I adored him.  I dubbed him my favorite from page 35, and I don't see that changing throughout this series.

Vidar was also fucking amazing.  Sorry, there's just no other way to put it.  He's charismatic, noble, caring, and has a strong sense of purpose.  It is his drive that has kept the Krigers going for so long, and what keeps Anders in check.  There's also a few flirty moments with Kaia that you can't help but adore him for, since it is all done for the sake of humor.  Vidar is adorable.  I can add nothing to that, and you'll have to read to find out exactly what I mean.  Between him and Anders, though, it was an entertaining read.

Morlet is also one of the most interesting characters in the book.  Now, I can't say too much on him without revealing some of the book's most intriguing moments, but he is a character you want to keep your eye on.  Before, I said that Anders was made of contradictions.  Morlet suffers with a few more of those than you would think.  And not even a king is master of everything.  Much less himself.

Plot & Setting:

As far as setting goes, this one is a bit lacking.  Through the narrative, we learn some basic layout, but not enough to immerse us.  Yet, since this is First Person Perspective, I usually let setting slide for realism's sake.  I mean, how many of us go around describing everything we see every day in our heads?  For a character to do it instead of focusing on the action, that's unforgivable to me.  So no harm, no foul on setting.

Plot though…  I'm back and forth on this one.  As I said, I need my characters focused on the action, and Kaia does nothing but this.  Yet, she's also used to create unnecessary series of events because she's just that plain stupid.  There were several instances in this book where she honestly should have died.  There were instances that could have been avoided entirely if she had just been a little more suspicious. And if she had trusted her allies more and her enemies less, half of the book would never have happened.

In general, the plot arc that this book was going for was achieved.  I loved the revelations and many of the character progressions that I witnessed.  Yet, much of it felt contrived through Kaia's ignorance, and I was not okay with that.

Writing Style:

I've read plenty of books by Jennifer Anne Davis and there is at least one quality to them that remains consistent: once I reach a certain point, it is in everyone's best interest not to fucking interrupt me.  For several of her books, this has come way sooner, and for others I pass that point much later.  This was one of the latter category.  My disconnect with Kaia made it hard to deal with her, but there was always a driving need to know what happens next.  To find out if my theories are sound.  (They were, btw.)  To see how everything would unfold.  That is the power of Ms. Davis's writing.  It pulls you in and keeps you questioning.  Even if you abhor the MC, you still have to stick with it to find out if everything is as you thought it would be.  Which is why I will undoubtedly be reading the next book.

Overall Opinion:

This is going to be a hit or miss with people, and there will be very little in-between.  (Waves hand at all the few other people to join me in the middle.)  There were parts I loved about this book, and there were parts I despised.  Since this is a FPP, however, I think most opinions will be directly related to how well you can connect with Kaia.  For younger teens, this will probably be a phenomenal hit.  For older teens, probably less so.  And amongst the adult portion of readers, I have to think it'll be a 50/50 shot, because so many want to experience the kind of innocence, naivety, and self-righteousness that Kaia provides; while others who don't mind the darker parts of the human experience will find her lacking in every instinctual, defensive necessity that our existence depends upon.

Book Review: Spellweaver by Tamara Grantham

Spellweaver by Tamara Grantham

Crimson Tree Publishing © 2015

Kindle Edition

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

Spellweaver on Amazon

Okay, first of all: let the drooling commence over that absolutely gorgeous cover!  It is a worthy successor to the cover of Dreamthief.

Summary:

As if Olive Kennedy didn't have enough problems, now she is required to save Faythander.  Again.  From goblins.  Again.  So much for the peaceful fairy world of her childhood.

Tracking goblins would have been easier if Olive wasn't surrounded by a bunch of Wult warriors, she imagined.  Yet, she stuck with them for one Wult in particular: Kull.  Having proven himself a remarkably lucky companion during her Dreamthief escapades, Olive has committed herself to helping track the goblins in order to rescue Kull's sister.  Except, his sister is in love with the goblin leader, Geth, who is on a mission to destroy magic in Faythander.

When Geth succeeds in destroying the Everblossom–a tree containing the last vestiges of pure magic in either world–it is Olive's job to restore the magic to the fairy realm, or watch every magical creature die a slow and painful death.  A point that is driven home the moment she returns to the dragons and seeks her stepfather's advice and finds the Sky King in mortal peril.

Relying more heavily on her Earth Kingdom magic, Olive must locate the Everblossom's last bloom and find where it belongs before all of Faythander's magic is extinguished.  Each step of the way, she fights against Geth's interference, and a few personal obstacles that involve a boyfriend that needs to be slapped with an 'ex' label, and a mother whose mind is clearing by the day now that the spells on her memories are losing their hold.

Perhaps worst of all, however, is the decree that the Wult King has made: that Kull and Olive can never be.  For the Wult Prince's marriage must have political significance, and he does not consider Olive worthy.  And she can't decide if it is better or worse that Kull is eager to discount threats of his inheritance in order to be with Olive.

Being a savior is a tough gig.

Initial Thoughts:

I love Olive.  Kull is hilarious.  The plot is never ridiculous or tests my patience.  And the writing is superb.  This is a series I very much want more of.

Characters:

Olive Kennedy is a desperate woman who doesn't get paid enough to do what she does.  After saving Faythander once before from the threat of the return of the Goddess Theht, she was kind of hoping for some down time.  That didn't happen.  A simple rescue mission turns into another save the world escapade.  And does she flinch from that responsibility?  Hell no!  This woman rolls her shoulders back, gives a sigh that sounds like a muttered 'not this shit again,' and does her job.

She's snarky and realistic.  My love for Olive is unnatural and a bit pathetic.  But it's true: I am in love with Olive's character as a whole.  This is one woman you can count on to do the right thing, no matter the cost.  And sometimes the costs are high, but she does what she needs to anyway.  I really love this aspect to her.

Kull is still his cocky, arrogant, brash, bold self, and damn is it a treat reading about him.  Loyal to the point of stupidity, sometimes, while pushing boundaries he shouldn't at others, Kull is a warrior through and through.  Most compelling is his passion when on a mission.  He has no qualms about charging into danger because danger is where the fun is at.  And his luck often works to counteract Olive's ability to court catastrophe.  They're a perfect pair.

Again, other characters could be discussed at length, but when you have these two, there's really no need.  This is a 'you'll have to read it to understand … so go read it already!' kind of deal.

Plot & Setting:

Magical fairy realm mixed with a little Texan flare.  That's our setting, as Olive moves between the worlds and gives us a very detailed explanation of just what the hell is going on.  It's neither overdone to the point you choke on the details, but nor is it a blank canvas that you have to provide all the details for.  A perfect balance, in my opinion.

As far as the plot…  How do I describe this without spoilers?  This is difficult…

Okay, so the plot is packed with a lot of questions, sporadic answers which induce more questions, and a double dosage of 'don't trust anyone.'  There's intrigue and life-threatening adventure.  Each step makes sense and each plot point drives home the reality of their situation should the magic not be restored.  It's fast-paced and addictive.  And I loved every minute of it.

Writing Style:

If you're not sick of this word yet, I'm going to make you sick of it, because I LOVED the narration and storytelling ability put into this book.  Olive's voice is engaging and serves to cement her character in your mind.  The mark of a damn good writer, in my opinion.  Again, this book was as fun as its predecessor, without losing any of the seriousness that the situation calls for.  At times it was also just plain heartbreaking.

My biggest compliment to this author is her ability to create separate story lines for each novel, while maintaining that single strand of 'underlying cause' that connects the books.  To me, this is how every series should be, though I know they are often not.  I truly enjoy books that seem as if they are a standalone, when really you're given the opportunity to continue the journey with these characters.  Which is why this is easily becoming one of my favorite series to date.

Overall Opinion:

I loved it.  Do I really need to say more?

Book Review: Crushed by Kasi Blake

Crushed by Kasi Blake

Clean Teen Publishing © 2015

Kindle Edition

Urban Fiction

Reviewed by Leah

Crushed on Amazon

A standard love story between the stereotypical popular genius and the bad boy with secrets.  This book didn't irritate or anger me as much as it could have, but only because I found it incredibly boring.  On a positive note, however, that cover is freaking gorgeous!

Summary:

Every year of high school, the Noah triplets have played a game: Crushed.  Born witches, it took help from their grandmother to learn what they should know about their powers, since neither of their parents were magically gifted.  However, the girls have their own idea that what Grandma Noah doesn't know won't hurt.  Which is why they keep the love spell game Top Secret.

The other reason they have to keep their game a secret is because the revelation that they are witches would mean the instantaneous loss of their powers.  Yet, that doesn't stop the game.

When Kristin Noah is dared to crush Zach Bevian, however, she's going to get a whole new taste of what dangers the game presents.

Initial Thoughts:

I would love a book about witches that was about the magic more than the love story.  Sadly, I am unable to find said book.

Characters:

I'm just going to say one word and it will cover everyone: Stereotypical.

Kristin Noah was the popular girl who cared only about her reputation, grades, and future.  She was irritatingly organized and had never been on a date in her life.  Poor, poor Kristin.

Her sisters, Brittany and Cyndi are referred to as 'the twins' because they're identical out of the triplets, where Kristin is not.  Britt is the typical bad girl who wears baggy band shirts and pajama bottoms to school.  Cyndi is the sister that likes peace and calm and wears identical clothing to Brittany's so that she can pretend to be her whenever she needs to cover her twin's ass.

Zach is typical bad boy with a heart of gold.  He's a loner at school who can't stand the Noah sisters and their misuse of magic.  Until, OF COURSE, he realizes there's something "different" about Kristin.  *Gag me.*  He is also a bit of a naive idiot.

Morgan is the only interesting character out of the whole book and I can't even say why because it's a massive spoiler.  Just … be prepared.

Plot & Setting:

No real setting here other than mansions and school.  No details really given or needed there.

As for the plot, it was decent but predictable.  There's a realism in Kristin not understanding what is gong on, and also a realism in Zach's determination to keep it that way.  They're both harboring secrets, and those lead to some disastrous results.

Writing Style:

I'm not sure what to say here.  This is a run-of-the mill paranormal romance.  There was nothing spectacular about this book or anything that stood out as unique or different.

Overall:

This was a boring read.  Nothing engaged me and so I slogged through it the best I could.  For a predictable, easy read that is a stand alone novel (though it's part of a series, each character group is different per book) then I say go for it.  But if you wanted more, then this book didn't deliver.

Book Review: Reluctant Guardian by Melissa J. Cunningham

Reluctant Guardian by Melissa J. Cunningham

Clean Teen Publishing © 2013

Kindle Edition

Urban Fiction

Reviewed by Leah

Reluctant Guardian on Amazon

***SPOILERS AND SWEARING BE HERE***

When I first read the prologue, I thought I was going to love this book.  For one brief moment, I thought this book was going to show everyone what it felt like to be suicidal.  To explore exactly how much you didn't want to feel anything anymore, while at the same time harboring the inability to feel anything at all.  That prologue gave me hope … which the rest of the book stole from me.

Summary:

Alisa Callahan is a sixteen-year-old girl who has survived a horrific childhood, only to be left alone.  Despite having a family that loves her, nothing can compare to the lives that were already lost.  With her grandmother gone and her best friend and fellow victim having died recently, she feels that she has nothing else to live for.  The pain caused by her past is as fresh and painful as if it happened yesterday.  Left without a comforting voice to guide her, Alisa decides it isn't worth it to live anymore.

She takes her own life.

An action that comes with a price.

The only way to atone for this sin is to help someone in a way that she couldn't help herself.  Assigned to Brecken Shaefer as a Guardian, Alisa naively believes that a few days will earn her an after-lifetime of peace and happiness with her grandmother and best friend in a place she cannot go.  That is until she actually meets Brecken.

Born with gifts of his own and a life that isn't all that great, Brecken wants nothing to do with another Guardian.  Least of all the smart-mouthed, irritating, goody-two-shoes Alisa.  He doesn't want anymore lectures or interference on how he does things.  The way he sees it, he's taking care of his family and anyone else who thinks differently can bite him.

Yet, despite their initial reactions to one another, the two are drawn together.  The relationship that forms causes far more complications than either of them anticipated.  There are consequences for every action, and they're about to figure that out the hard way.

Initial Reaction:

This is the kind of book that pisses off everyone who is/has ever been suicidal.  The feeling of hopelessness and disgust with yourself and everyone around you completely vanishes after the prologue.  This is not a book about a girl who committed suicide.  It is a love story about some stupid dead girl and an even stupider 'bad boy with a heart of gold.'  I regret ever picking up this book.

Characters:

Alisa is a spoiled, arrogant, ignorant little twat.  I would try to tone this down for a review, normally, but I can't.  This girl is the very definition of a naive moron.

Let me fill you in on depression a little bit, and thus what Alisa should probably be feeling at some fucking point throughout this story: you hate everything.  Yet, you loathe nothing like you loathe yourself.  Your lack and failure light up behind your eyes like neon signs and you're forced to see each mistake you've ever made with glaring clarity every single day.  You feel hopeless and useless in ways you didn't think a human being was capable of.  You look at the world around you and all of the obstacles standing in your way and you realize that you were never capable of changing a damn thing.  Your world is the way it is and you are powerless to do anything about it.  There is no hope.  Nothing to live for.  You're stuck between a rock and a hard place and there's nowhere to go.  It is the knowledge that your life is meaningless and nothing you do will have an affect on anyone or anything, so why should you bother?  At the same time, you want to be useful.  You want to prove you're not a waste of space so desperately that you become a nuisance to your family, friends, and anyone else who cares about you.  Yet, you can't make yourself get off that computer, or go out and have fun, or even drag yourself out of bed when no other obligation throws you into a panic attack over what must be done.  Depression is knowing that you mean nothing, and the world wouldn't care that you're gone.

Do you think, for one solitary second, that Alisa felt this way at all?

If you said no, you would be correct.  This girl is naive and stupid in all the worst of ways.  When she commits suicide, she has expectations of what death is going to be.  She pretty much demands that she be allowed to float around with her grandma and friend in chapter one.  When she learns that she can read minds, she is excited.  Death, apparently, has resolved all those years of psychological self-mutilation for her.

Yeah, I'm calling bullshit.  Especially when the world she arrives in is more conducive to making her depression stronger rather than weaker.  I mean, if you're expecting nothing but relief from all of the fucking pain, and you wind up with assignments and classwork, all within the realm of purgatory … yeah that's going to cure you all right.

Also, the reason for her so-called depression: she was molested as a child.  A fact that is literally dropped on us in a passing fashion.  No build up.  No lingering horror to plague the pretty little ghost.  Only one tiny hint in the prologue before we're ten chapters in and are hit with that fact like a brick to the face.

Alisa is a jackass to everyone around her, and especially to her charge.  Not that he's anything special … oh wait…

Brecken Shaefer is a special snowflake.  In the cosmic, angels hath no fury, kind of way.  He has gifts that allow him to hear and sometimes see his Guardians.  He's also got a healthy dose of 'I have to do everything myself, which is why I don't take my sisters to my aunt's, even though she could take much better care of them than I can' along with 'must steal to survive, even though I feel guilty about it every single time I break into someone's house.'  He was such a worthless character to read about.  I felt nothing for him, almost as if he were a cut and paste trope.  Actually, having read this months ago, I don't even remember him that well…  So we'll be moving on now.

Plot & Setting:

Otherwise known as: ridiculous & non-existent.

I know this was trying to make a new spin on the whole 'life after death' scenario, but damn did it fail.  Especially where the suicide came in.  If you want to read a decent book with a suicide-city type of portrayal, then read Sanctum by Sarah Fine instead.  It has a more realistic view of what depression can do to a person, and a grittier version of what suicide gets you in the afterlife.

The plot according to this book was a love story.  That's it.  Anything else happening around it was just fodder.  Everything that occurred within this novel was for the specific contrivance of having Alisa and Brecken fall in love.  Again: ridiculous.

The setting here failed at doing anything.  There are brief glimpses of a place Alisa isn't allowed to go to, a half-assed description of the place she's stuck in, a better description of the place she could wind up if she fails, and that's about it.  I don't even care enough to attempt remembering it.

Writing Style:

All telling, no showing.  Immature characters, especially for the themes touched upon.  Inability to decently handle the themes brought into the novel.  This author is not for me and I will not be reading any further works.

Overall Opinion:

I regret reading this book.  As someone intimately familiar with depression, suicidal thoughts, and the knowledge of what sexual abuse can do to a person, I am pissed off with the portrayals of any of these throughout this novel.  Everything was handled with such a cavalier attitude and none of it actually affected the characters who were supposedly consumed by it.  So no thanks.  Fuck this.  I'm done.

*Note to Authors*

If you are going to touch on any of these sensitive subjects, do them justice.  They are not a plot device or an excuse for why your character acts the way they do.  These are real conditions that do have real life damaging results.  Talk to anyone you know, and you will find out, because they are far more common than you think.  Then ask them what damage these conditions have done.

Now try and write a stupid love story where these are merely plot points.