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: 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.

Friends At First Sight

Okay, so I made this comment to my friend and the conversation just kind of continued from there, so I decided to make a post about it.

Original message:

You know what, writing a decently paced, relatable, believable love story is challenging.

It is even more difficult doing this with a legitimate friendship.

What it then turned into was something along these lines:

We, as a society, have made it acceptable to be friends at first sight. All of us watch as kids enter a classroom, decide they like the color someone else is wearing and are instant best friends. Not even just friends or acquaintances. From that moment, those two will be seen as best friends until something 'dramatic' shifts the balance.

It is okay to be friends with someone without even really knowing them. We claim them, right away. Give it only ten minutes of conversation, and you could know in those few moments that this is someone you connect with on a level few others understand. This person is your friend.

So why is that acceptable, but love at first sight isn't?

Mind you, I'm a skeptic as far as love at first sight goes. I do fall more towards the lust at first sight crowd. But who is to say that in the same twenty minutes it takes you or I to make a new friend, it wouldn't take someone else the same amount of time to fall in love? Especially if you're one of those rare individuals who loves like a puppy: always giving, never mind about that receiving bit.

Why have we made it okay to call each other friends when we barely know each other, but we discount anyone's claim that they have fallen in love in the same frame of time?

This is especially true in novels, I've found. It is amazing the amount of times the first instinct about a person is all that is needed for a character to decide whether another will be a friend or an enemy. Maybe it takes a character one day, or maybe it takes them thirty seconds. The point being, we can accept that in a novel.

If the same main character meets another character and strikes up a conversation that leaves an impression, however, it's not possible that they're in love. It's unacceptable, unless you want to get battered with the 'instalove' card.

And I get it. I wouldn't read some banal love story where the girl meets a guy and decides that it is love within her first twenty minutes of speaking to him. Especially when said story often involves unnecessary drama that is there just to form the semblance of a plot.

Yet, I'm not sure I want to read a book about two friends risking their lives for each other when they've only met three days ago, either.

The point I'm trying to make, is that friendships may be easier to come by, but they are built with all of the same things as romantic love.

*Trust

*Respect

*Honesty

*Laughter

*Memories

If you are going to make a book, film, song, whatever about friendships, then I feel like you should treat it like romantic love. Give it the same patience and organic growth that you would experience if you were falling in love with someone. Because, essentially, you are.

I love my best friend. She is more my soul mate than the man I am in love with. That didn't happen in the blink of an eye. It didn't just occur one day, with one conversation, over one shared interest. It was a bond that began with a spark that we built into a wildfire over years of laughter and video chats and TMI late night conversations. Ours is a legitimate love story in every way that counts.

The difference? If I wrote a book about it, I could skip all of those important character building, life saving, soulmate finding details. As a reader, you wouldn't demand anything more from me than 'She's my best friend. I'd do anything for her.'

For a while, I thought that was enough, too. I thought: what more needs to be said?

And yet, if someone says 'That's my soulmate. I'd die for them.' we demand a better reason. We demand an explanation.

What if they're the same person? Best friend/soulmate/lover? What then? Do we still have the right to demand an explanation behind why this person would put themselves at risk for someone they love? How is that okay?

And if you think it is, then do me a favor: Don't accept the excuse of 'best friend' anymore.

If you think a love story between two individuals needs to be more fully explained, like I do, then also demand that stories that revolve around a friendship hold themselves to the same standard.

Of course, I am thinking of one book in particular, though I won't name it. Yet, it was my own NaNo novel which sparked this pre-bedtime tirade. Because, in the first 1/3 of the book, I'm trying to build a friendship for these two girls that is the basis for the rest of the novel. Being as it is NaNo and I'm rushing, obviously I did not do this well.

A fact I have been brooding about all month long. So it bred this whole curfluffle.

I'm trying to write a friendship how I would write a romance. Because I am now putting them on equal footing, I think I have a better idea how I am going to accomplish this.

Thus the post and my sharing of my ideas with all you lovelies. Thank you for reading my ranting.

Book Review: Descendant by Nichole Giles

Descendant by Nichole Giles

Jelly Bean Press © 2013

Kindle Edition

YA Romance

Reviewed by Leah

Descendant on Amazon

I remember downloading this on a day when it was free.  Thought: you know what, it looks decent so I'll give it a shot.

I wanted to like this.  Really, I did.  Alas, it was not meant to be.

Summary:

Abigail Johnson is considered Gifted, but it's more like a curse.  A Healer who has never healed another person who also has visions of the past that somehow passes for Sight, she's a bit of a mess.  That doesn't change when she moves to Jackson, Wyoming.  Suddenly, it seems as if destiny has led her directly to this place and time, where Gifted wander around in groups, and the local heartthrob has eyes only for her.

But Jackson isn't safe for everyone, and Abby especially has a few new problems to work out.  Along with Kye--the boy she feels she's known forever, yet only a day--she must take on a mission from the Fairy Queen.  A mission that reveals the past, layer by layer, and threatens the future with each passing second.


Initial Thoughts:

I really had no initial thoughts for this one.  I got it for free without doing more than skimming the blurb--or maybe that instalove wouldn't have hit me so hard--and just decided that it was time to read it. For the beginning, I got through it without too much eye-rolling, but then it declined and by the end, I was swearing a lot more than I should have been.


Writing Style:

I have to start with this one, because I feel it will set the premise for the rest of the not-so-good review.  In a single word: immature.  None of the characters were fleshed out, at all.  Everyone was a one dimensional caricature of something that existed before.  Though nothing was worse than the absolute lack of detail concerning the villains.  They were there because they needed to be, but they had no motives or thoughts or codes of their own beyond the basest forms of depravity that the author could give them.  More or less, they are the shadows in the night that your mind forms into a bogey man … but is still a shadow; meaning it lacks any substantiality.  This, for me, was the most unforgivable aspect of the book.  It was bad enough having walk-in secondary characters, but to have shadows for villains was unacceptable.


Plot & Setting:

I liked the general idea of the plot.  Where Abby slowly discovers what the visions mean and has to deal with those as they come while revealing the past to herself and others.  That aspect of it was cool and intriguing.

Yet, it had no bearing on the actual plot.  In fact, the story itself was all over the place.  I understand that these two teenagers are out to save the world … but they need several distractions from that very thing.  And instead of making sure they lay low and stay safe after getting the things they need, they expose themselves at every opportunity to danger.  It was maddening.  While, at other times, we waste pages and pages on their lackluster (more obsessive than endearing) love story while they flounce around NYC like a couple of dumb tourists.  It was maddening.

As far as the setting goes, I don't even feel like going into it.  Suffice it to say: lack of descriptions.  Though I'm usually okay with this--and it didn't really bother me this time--I still have to chalk this up to my less-than-acceptable reading experience.


Characters:

Oi vey.  I hated them all.  (Here there be SPOILERS.  You are FOREWARNED.)

Abby was the innocent.  She was naive, ignorant, and an emotionally stunted pain in the ass.  She is very much the definition of TSTL (Too Stupid To Live).  There were so many times in which I was praying for the villains to kill her.  (Except they would have to be competent in order to do anything at all.  More on them later.)  Abby was the number one reason I began to loathe this book.

Kye wasn't much better.  Like Abby, he is nothing more than a caricature of his role.  He's made out to be the gorgeous, noble princeling-type who happens to have a heart of gold that allows him to communicate with animals.  Gag me.  Mister Perfect meets I Wish I Had A Brain.  For some reason, he has skills and equipment that no teenager would normally have and he works for the Fairy Queen.  He saves the world constantly and knows that nobody will ever know about it.  But he's okay with that because he's good for the sake of being good.  Again: gag me.  He was unrealistic, ridiculous, and almost as innocent as Abby--though there were some innuendoes dropped by other characters to make him seem like a "player".  (Please, this baby boy doesn't know the meaning of the word.)

All Side Characters were walk-ins only.  They served their purposes to very minimal degrees and were asked to exit the stage immediately so that the main leads could have more time to make kissy faces, disturbingly quick declarations, and realize all their potential as true loves.  Nothing else mattered in this book at all.  Especially other characters.

All the Villains were in the same boat.  As previously stated, they were stick figures and place holders.  Meant to do and say despicable things to Abby, but without ever actually succeeding in doing anything at all.  They were incompetent, ignorant, and useless.  And the main bad guy was just so ridiculous that reading his dialogue made me want to gouge my eyes out.  It was truly horrendous at the end there.


Overall Opinion:

I can't even.  I'm so happy to be done with this and moving on to another book.  Either the books in YA are getting worse and worse, or I'm just outgrowing them more and more.  One way or the other, I still don't think this book would make anyone's cut.  But that's just my opinion.  You know, the only one that matters to me.

Book Review: The Awakener by Amanda Strong

The Awakener by Amanda Strong

Clean Teen Publishing © 2014

Kindle Edition

Paranormal Romance

Reviewed by Leah

The Awakener on Amazon

*Reviewer's Note: This review going to go in reverse order, at some points.  This won't be like my usual reviews.*

Summary:

When Eden returns to the town of her childhood, she's looking forward to very few things.  One of those things, however, is seeing Micah again.  However, when she spots him on her first day of school, she can't bring herself to face him.  That is, until her body acts of its own accord and she throws her arms around him in a moment of utter embarrassment.  Neither of them realized just how much one hug could mean to the future of everything.

With the reality of angels, demons, and destruction revealed to him, Micah fully accepts his responsibilities as the Seer--called by the Captain to save the world from a fiery purge.  Meanwhile, Eden cluelessly traverses High School, awakening the gifts of others as she goes.  Which is more than a source of ire for the demons sent to destroy her.  With her guardian angel on duty, however, she has the luxury of feeling safe … for the most part.

With the demons growing bolder and crossing the barriers between the worlds, Micah needs all of those Eden has awakened, and the Awakener herself.  In ways they both know go beyond their duty.  To rebuild the City of Enoch, no price is too high.  And self-sacrifice is not off the table.

Initial Thoughts:

I avoid angels and demons books like the plague.  Why?  Because I love angels--grew up watching Christopher Walken in The Prophecy--so I'm a little obstinate when faced with such creatures.  And, let's face it, when you're passionate about anything, you're always wary about books that portray them.

Well, I wasn't too disappointed with the portrayal of angels in this book.  Probably because the author had done some research on the hierarchies and integrated the angels in a way that was acceptable.

Now if only the rest of the book had been as agreeable.

Plot & Setting:

The setting here wasn't too detailed, but it was believable.  It was easy to imagine and it wasn't bogged down with a lot of details, which I appreciated.

As far as the plot, this isn't anything you have to use brain power on.  It's very simplistic, unfolds at a decent pace, and sticks to the main conflict for the most part.  (There are some HS drama type of moments, but they're used more often than not to showcase the changes someone has made due to being Awakened, so I can't fault it for that.)  There is a fairly early reveal about the stakes, the main players, and the mission which Micah is responsible for completing.  For the reader, it makes it very easy to follow along and know everything.

To discuss the actual mission: the world is going to be burnt to cinders this time, instead of drowned.  Fair enough.  Can't say we haven't earned that form of retribution.  Only, we need a few cities to survive this during this round of purging.  A fact Micah is significantly aware of, and working to prevent.

As a plot, it's compelling.  The premise of the story is intriguing and I was expecting a lot of tension.  On that count, it failed.  While the story is filled with Micah/Eden tensions, it fails to deliver on Micah/Eden vs. demons tension.  Despite this constantly circulating in Micah's head, it fails to deliver the compulsion the reader needs to want to keep going with him.  In fact, the only character that does push the significance of these events onto the reader is a secondary character, Trent.

To give it in the simplest terms: it was a lackluster production.

Writing Style:

Simple.  It's really all I can say.  The faith of the author is apparent, which I completely understand.  Despite the stance many people take on angels, this one feels pretty much authentic with angelic history within Christianity, while giving off its own modern vibes.  This, of course, means that this book is very clean.  Not "never have to dust it on your shelf" clean, but no use of swear words were permitted in the making of this novel.  The writing also follows a no-mystery-here type of style, which means this book would be most suitable for young teenagers around the ages thirteen or fourteen.  I'm not sure older, more mature individuals would have the patience that this book requires.  (I know I didn't.)

Characters:

Oi vey.  Actually, for the most part, I liked everyone.  Or, liked some, others were barely on the page long enough to form an opinion about, and others were downright unbearable.  So let's go in order, shall we?  Let's just say, from most liked to most hated.  This ought to be fun…  (Warning: Possible Rant on the Horizon!)

Trent was the most likable.  He had a very direct personality without any side-stepping going on.  What Trent thought about, you knew.  Whether it be his definition of a hot guardian angel or just what he thinks of his cousin's visions.  I liked Trent the most because he was as close as we got to a teenage boy.  His focus was on all of the things he liked, and he couldn't care about anything else.  Which, when you got past the fact that he was one horny little bugger (though this book only mentions kissing and not what he would get into given the right amount of time), he was actually very intelligent as far as history and languages.  And none could ever doubt the loyalty this boy has to his cousin.  Ever.

Micah's determination was the most defining factor of his characterization.  And it was admirable.  As soon as he discovers his role, his mind is locked in on his mission.  He knows what he has to do, and what he has to give up in order to do it.  The fact that he is so willing to give up his own desires in order to get the job done is what makes him a believable and respectable character.  Though his pining over Eden did grate the nerves quite a bit…

Damon is also an incredibly loyal person and I enjoyed when his character was brought to the fore.  Like a cross between Micah and Trent, he has this fierceness in him that is very endearing.  Much like Micah, he's determined to see through his part of the mission, and protect everyone as well as he possibly can.  I actually really liked Damon, but he didn't get enough page time to get to know him, which was a crying shame.

Willow was an interesting character in the fact that she started off as this bitchy, petty, stereotypical Mean Girl … and performed a complete one-eighty.  When she was Awakened, Willow became the greatest female character in the book.  She was confident, intelligent, empathic, instinctive, kind, and generous.  Which was refreshing as far as this book was concerned.  And it's really her bold, energetic personality that gives the group some life.

Now we're going to get to know some less fleshed-out characters as we get into the mere mediocre cast…

Caitlyn was quiet, but powerful.  Her gift is the most unassuming, just like she is.  Quiet, but with a voice that speaks of wisdom and sincerity.  Too bad she got only a few pages to nail down her personality, but she would be worth getting to know.

In my opinion, Andrew existed merely for the drama he could cause.  The romantic element was his main purpose, hands down.  That he was there as a buffer between Eden and Micah is what created the central conflict.  (Note: I labeled this as a Paranormal Romance for a reason.  The romance was the conflict.)  Which, of course, in fulfilling his role, Andrew had to be perfect.  And that's all we got.  Was this hot, nice guy who has a penchant for healing people who happens to love Eden.  That's it.  Nothing else.  He pretty much was just a stand-in to make kissy faces and awkward times with Eden.

And now we unveil my hit list (or cut list, because it would have helped the book in the end just as much as if I murdered these characters.  Warning: Rant Mode Engaged.)

Jessie was irritating as all hell.  This is a girl who's never even heard of the Bechdel test, let alone could pass it.  Her only thoughts all pertained to the male anatomy.  And heaven forbid she talk about something other than a boy.  And while she served as a decent female friend who was supportive, she failed in doing anything worthwhile.  At all.  Honestly, her character could have been cut from the start and no one would have noticed or cared.

Then there's Eden.  Yes, if I could, I would cut Eden out of the entire story.  Because she contributes nothing at all.  I mean that.  As the Awakener, all she does is hug people.  The rest of the time she serves as nothing more than a romantic stand-in.  It's like it was required for Micah to be in love with someone, and Eden got the role.  All she does is serve as a Damsel In Distress the entire book.  She can't save herself and she makes stupid decisions that threaten her safety and the safety of others.  Not to mention she is a shallow, judgmental bitch.  Oh, and I have quotes for this…

At only 15% we get this little thought process concerning Damon from Eden's outlook:

'She knew he belonged to the skater crowd and assumed he did drugs because of the dark bags under his eyes.'

I'm not even kidding.  This is a literal quote from the book.  I … I don't even know how to handle that amount of utter stupidity.  Does she even know what drugs do to a human body?  Or the type of effects a being would suffer due to certain types of drugs.  Clearly not.  Oh, and bags under the eyes?  That could be a sign of sleeping an average of four hours and reading an average of 8 a day.  I would know, since that's how I spent all of my HS years.  You, Eden, are a judgmental bitch.

Of course, that's not the end of her degrading thoughts about Damon.  Of all the people in this whole book, he's the one she consistently looks down upon and I just want to slap her because he is clearly more intelligent than she is and far more useful.  Eden = liability.  Damon = superhero.  But here's another quote for you to enjoy from the mind of a moron:

'But I doubt he's ever had a girlfriend as gorgeous as she is.'

Backstory: she's discussing how Damon finds Willow a little intimidating.  She thinks the reason he's wary around her is because Willow is hot.  Yes, Eden is that dumb.

Not that she would know it, but looks are not everything.  Even to guys.  (I have enough brothers to know this one is a fact.)  Rather, perhaps Damon is intimidated by Willow because, I don't know … she's intimidating.  Damon is a quiet, loner kind of individual as we've seen him.  So someone as bold, energetic, and confident as Willow is outside of his comfort zone.  And when she doesn't respect personal boundaries, it can be unnerving.  So, really, I doubt her looks had anything to do with this.  Her personality had all those bases covered and Damon has every right to be a little suspicious of her.  She's creepy.

If only my issues with eden ended with her being a standard Mary-Sue.  Really, I've read enough of them to just brush it off.  And I even had some hope for her after she realized she can't walk alone at night in case demons are out to get her.  There are a lot of YA females (can't even call them heroines) that don't have that much common sense.  Yet again, there are degrees of common sense that Eden just does not possess.

For one, not realizing that Gabriel, her guardian angel, was the Gabriel.  As in: the Archangel.  You know … a Holy.

You know, even Bella Swan sought an internet connection when Jacob Black dropped the vampire bomb.  Six months of literally talking aloud to her guardian angel and fearing demons, and does this girl once touch a laptop?  Yes, actually.  But only to email Micah about the demon encounter and her date with Andrew.  This girl was such a waste of pages.  Hands down.

Of course, my biggest issue with Eden is her insecurity.

Note to authors: Insecurity is NOT endearing.  It's not even relatable.

I've been to public school.  I've encountered several different levels of insecure teenagers.  Never in my life have I met someone so utterly self-conscious that s/he is reduced to the point of pathetic.  In YA fiction, however, they abound with so much frequency I could puke.  Eden, of course, falls right in line with her trope siblings--if she isn't crowned their idiot queen.

Now, I understand why authors try to do this whole insecure teenager bit.  Because a lot of teenagers actually are scared, frightened, shy creatures with anxiety issues.  Too many, in fact.  But with role models like these, how can we expect them to be any better?  Any stronger, mentally?

I don't want to read about weak children.  Male or female.  I want to read about strong, smart, endearing young men and women.  People teenagers can look up to and emulate.

Let me tell you a little story here: when I was in MS and HS, I read nothing but fantasy.  I raised myself on fantasy.  On wild adventures full of magic, dragons, wizards, brothers, warriors, and love.  I grew up reading about adults.  Not children.  The only books even considered "YA" that I read in those years were Harry Potter and Eragon.  (And I've never finished that last series because it was clearly juvenile.)

You know what I learned from those fantasy books?  I learned about honor; about keeping your word and the value of making and keeping promises.  (Now, I don't make promises; for the simply reason that I don't know if I can keep them.)  I learned not to lie; if only because the truth can be far more entertaining.  From those books, I grew my pride and my self-confidence.  My friends are chosen with care, because I abide by the old adage 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me'.  I'm not a fool, and I won't be played for one.  In a fantasy novel, that shit gets you killed.

Why am I telling you this?  Because I raised myself with books.  I didn't learn a damn bit of that from any real person in my life.  Not my parents, grandparents, family friends, or relatives.  I raised myself on books.

Now, what kind of person would I have been if I didn't read about people who have the confidence and courage to pursue their goals and ambitions?  What if I had chosen to read YA and had only Mary-Sues who lacked self-confidence, strong opinions, and strength of mind to do what needs to be done for themselves?  I am relieved to say: I don't know.

What I am not relieved to say is: what other people out there are raising themselves to the standards of these types of females in YA books?

So here ends my PSA for Authors: Stop Making Insecure Female Leads

Girls don't actually relate to them, and they could be setting a far worse example than you can imagine.

Overall Opinion:

The premise was spectacular: a girl awakening abilities in others so they can save the world from a fiery purge.  The execution was a flop.  Instead of revolving around the mission, this book got caught in the murky romance and all of the drama it entailed.  Though some of the characters were great, the female lead absolutely ruined this book.  When one of your narrators is that bad, there is no saving a story like this.

Personally, I don't recommend this to anyone.  But that's for you to judge.  I'm done.

Book Review: The Boss by Abigail Barnette

The Boss by Abigail Barnette

CreateSpace Independent Publishing © 2013

Kindle Edition

Erotica

Reviewed by Leah

The Boss on Amazon

I have never read straight out erotica before.  I may now have to start.  And I am cursing myself explicitly for being two hundred miles away from my boyfriend when I made this damning decision.

Summary:

As an assistant at a very high profile fashion magazine, Sophie's biggest worries usually evolve around the next crises her demanding boss, Gabriella Winters, can come up with.  Even the most hectic of Gabriella's most ridiculous demands could not have prepared her for the day her boss was ousted and replaced with Neil Elwood.

A man Sophie had had one hot night with in LA six years prior when running away to Tokyo seemed far less traumatic than attending NYU.

Neil--known as Leif back then--saved Sophie's sanity that night by stealing her ticket to Tokyo and leaving enough money to get her life back on track.

Two years after graduating from NYU, Sophie knows she's got to work her way up at the magazine, and being an assistant is just a stepping stone.  It's the kind of life she can handle and she works hard to earn her keep.  So it feels like someone just dropped a boulder in her pond when the forty-eight year old Neil Elwood takes over the magazine and becomes her new boss on a day that was supposed to be just like any other.

With this new regime comes a whole new level of growing pains.  Especially when it becomes painfully obvious that she and Neil simply can't keep their hands off one another.  With a personal brand of directness, Sophie offers a casual relationship with no-strings-attached benefits.

Even as their experiences take them into a safe, trusting D/s relationship, Sophie is falling into even more confusing territory.  Knowing herself as well as she does, a serious commitment is not what she's looking for.  So falling in love with Neil was the last thing she wanted to do.

To offset the sexual bliss, there are too many changes happening at the magazine far too quickly.  Things are bubbling beneath the surface and the friction swallows even Sophie into it.  Which is enough for everything she's come to care about to be put at risk.


Initial Thoughts:

I don't read erotica.  Some romance books with a few steamy scenes, sure.  Full blown erotica?  I was a virgin.  So knowing that, I still had to read this book because Navessa on GoodReads made me.  I was not disappointed.


Characters:

Sophie was so easy for me to relate to.  Her voice was blunt and direct and her personality was so very easy to fall into that I was no longer reading.  I was experiencing the story through her eyes.  As a narrator, there is nothing bad I could possibly say about Sophie.

Neil was the sweetest person in the entire novel, and he was the freaking Dominant.  There was no moment of aggression in his relationship with Sophie and he was considerate about all of her needs and desires.  He was supportive when he needed to be, but was not a pushover when it came to the important stuff.

Holli was the best friend everyone needs.  Tough love and complete understanding.  Unobtrusive for the most part, but perfectly nosy at others.  It makes me so happy to know that I have friends that are just as awesome as she is.


Plot & Setting

The setting here was NYC, which I don't know anything about.  But what was described to me, I could see perfectly.  Everything else, I made up in my head as we went along.  Which was perfect, because I'm not one for 'down to the paint chips' descriptions.

For the most part, the plot was satisfactory.  I liked that the initial contact between Sophie and Neil wasn't a 'boy meets girl and they fall into instalove' reaction.  Instead it was an, "Oh shit, I slept with you six years ago and thought I'd never see you again," response.

The sex, of course, was amazing.  The building relationship between Neil and Sophie was cute in its own way and the amount of speed involved in it was understandably freaking Sophie out.  And when added with the priorities of juggling work and a personal life get jumbled together, it's a realistic amount of stress.


Writing Style:

Since it is written in FPP (First Person Perspective) it's all about the narration here.  Which was spot on.  Every character was their own unique person.  They all had their own issues.  And there was nothing in the writing to deviate from Sophie's personality and realistic reactions.  This was really a treat to read, as it felt as if I were no longer reading but experiencing everything within the book.


Overall Opinion/Spoiler Section:

Yes, here there be spoilers.  Abandon review now.

Still with me?  Okay…

First of all, I enjoyed the hell out of this book.  Easily would have been a 4.5-5 star book if not for two things.  The first of these problems was the obvious reference to the fact that Neil did not at all want kids.  He already had a grown adult daughter and his time for raising babies was at an end.  So the moment that Sophie spent an entire day puking her guts out over a toilet, I groaned.  With all of the other complicated plot devices in place for this book (Sophie's job on the rocks and fighting her feelings for her boss) this seemed like a cheap dramatic device which ultimately sank my enjoyment of this book to a solid 4.  Once the pregnancy was revealed, I felt like this had just turned into a literary soap opera.

My other problem with this book was the horrible cliffhanger ending.  I fucking HATE when books do this.  Even when a book is part of a series, I at least want some form of closure at the end of each book. Not a cliffhanger that literally makes me want think this is the literary version of a soap opera.  The new book is just the next episode, but instead of enticing me to continue, I honestly reconsidered whether or not I wanted to continue with the fuckfest.  Well, I bought the second book and we'll see how it goes from there.

Anyway, between that cliffhanger and the stupid, unnecessary pregnancy, my full rating of this would be 3.5 stars.  Easy.  Because I still enjoyed it enough to where I will probably reread this at least once.  Or rather … skim my favorite parts from time to time.

Book Review: Rising by Holly Kelly

Rising by Holly Kelly

Clean Teen Publishing © 2014

iBooks Edition

Paranormal Romance

Reviewed by Leah

Rising on Amazon

Well, if Sherry D. Ficklin has the best dedication, then Holly Kelly has the best opening line of her 'About the Author' over at CTP.  I couldn't even imagine being a mom and a writer.  Well, okay I could imagine it, but that's a serious workload.  You have my respect, Kelly.  Even if you do lock yourself away and let the kids destroy the house while you write.

Summary:

Rising is a dual narration novel starring deformed human Sara and Dagonian--NOT merman--Xanthus Dimitriou.

On Sara's end of things, she's a twenty year old who is finally independent of her crazy mother.  In business for herself as a webpage designer, it's easy for her to avoid contact with most people.  Which is good if you're wheelchair bound due to a fin-like deformity instead of legs.

Xanthus, on the other hand, is a powerful Dagonian warrior intent on stopping a brutal war the humans don't even know is coming.  An illegal chemical spill near Hawaii claimed thousands of Dagonian lives.  Now, they're all thirsting for blood.

Given one year to stop the atrocities, Triton sends Xanthus on his own personal crusade to the surface.  In that time, he must send those responsible for the spill to the god while trying to singlehandedly stop the rampant pollution created by the humans.  It's a tough job for any Dagonian.  And it only gets worse when he smells her.

Now, caught between his duty as a soldier and his desire to protect the innocent, Xanthus is determined to learn all he can of the female half-Dagonian.

By the time the real dangers become clear, they will both make a discovery absolutely divine in nature. Information that could very well come too late.

Initial Thoughts:

Overall, I'm not exactly sure how to describe this one.  So I'm just going to rip the bandaid off: it read like a Twilight fan fiction.

That is neither a good thing nor a bad thing.  To me.  Especially since I was a serious Twi-Hard when I first read the books.  And Rising evoked the same kind of feelings in me that allowed me to stay hooked to the Twilight Saga, despite its many issues.

However, there were a lot of similarities that were not of the good kind.  And since this is an honest review, I feel the need to call them out.

Characters:

Let's start with Sara.  Extra-sweet, good girl, Mary Sue, Bella-esque Sara…  The amount of times I just wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled cannot be counted.  And the sudden death of her independence once she meets Xanthus is overwhelmingly sad.  To be quite honest, I did not like Sara at any point in the story.

Of course, I liked Xanthus even less--the whole first half of the book.  He kind-of grew on me towards the end.  Not enough to ever land the role of BBW however.

Xanthus reads like Edward on steroids.  I'm not even kidding.  He is overbearingly overprotective of Sara.  I mean, he literally makes a guy piss himself because of her.  His creep-factor is off the charts.  And his lack of rounding out of character drives me insane.  But I'll get into that more in my spoiler section.

To be honest, the only characters I really enjoyed were the secondary ones.  Nicole, Sara's mom, was awesome.  Xanthus's sister, Adelpha, seemed pretty sweet.  And Gretchen was a straight up badass.  So why were they all given about ten minutes of screen time and then shooed off because Xanthus and Sara had bigger fish to fry?

Plot & Setting:

Now, normally, all of this would make me back away from a series and say, "You know what, this isn't for me.  I'll pass on book two."  But you know those emotions I was talking about?  Yeah, I just entered a contest to hopefully win a free copy of the second book.  And I can't even tell you why.

The more I think critically about this book, the less it appeals to me.  Settings are not fully drawn out.  The mythology could have had a greater role.  Tropes are thrown into the readers' faces without care.  And the two leads are the most annoying of anyone.  What good could I find in this book that would make me okay with reading a second one?  Maybe even a third?

I don't know.  There were quite a few cute moments with Xanthus and Sara.  But a book cannot thrive off a romance in itself.  It needs a plot.  Something this book was sorely lacking.

I still somewhat liked it.

The mythology introduced to us in the beginning sounded incredible.  I wanted to hear more of the history between the Dagonians and Mer.  Of the relationship between Triton and Poseidon.  I would have even been okay with Triton's misery for a little longer.  I got none of that.

I still somewhat liked it.

And I still don't know why.

Writing Style:

How does it go from good to not-good?  How?  The writing in the beginning was engaging.  It's what got me past "independent" Sara and creepy Xanthus.  As the story proceeded and we got a few dashes of action, however, it seemed that the style became more choppy and less consistent.  Especially Xanthus's dialogue.  It was weird having him go from very proper, older turns of phrase, to slang in about 50 pages.  What gives?

Also, and this is an issue I've noticed with a lot of the CTP books I've been reading, but there are some noticeable editing errors.  Some are so small as to be just a missing word like 'a'.  But I've seen a mistake where two words were absolutely switched around that shouldn't have been.  To most people, these issues can be overlooked.  For us Grammar Nazis, though, they stand out.  And some of them scream like a Siren.

Not really a critique on the style I guess so much as a pet peeve, so I guess that means we get to move into…

Overall Opinon/Spoilers:

This book entertained me.  I don't know how.  But it did.  And so I think I'll read the second one.  We'll see.

Now, onto the list of spoilers.  Don't read past this point if you want to read this book.  (Also, the use of swearing permitted in this section.  You are forewarned.)

1.  Nothing will make me cheer for Sara at any point than that time she pepper-sprayed Xanthus.  Total win.  And nothing makes a girl lose respect quite like her making out with him three pages later.  Epic fail.

2.  Xanthus, you suck.  You're supposed to be this badass soldier intent on upholding the law no matter what.  You set eyes on a halfbreed Mer and all of a sudden you have performance issues.  And it doesn't even take you TWO FUCKING SECONDS to make the decision that you can't kill her.  Remind me to never recruit idiots like you for my own private army.  If you can't eliminate a threat before it becomes one, you are no use to anyone.

3.  I cannot stand Sara's self-deprecating bullshit.  Every man that enters into her life sexually harasses her in some way … but 'oh, I'm not pretty or special'.  Bite me you Mary Sue, Special Snowflake pest.

4.  That ending man.  That bloody ending that has everything turning out alright.  Happily Ever After bullshit that it is, Triton and Sara's relationship springs up faster than her and Xanthus's instalove.  And that's hard to manage.  And in what world is it okay to let the would-be killers get off scott free ON LAND where, you know, YOUR DAUGHTER is going to be?  Who cares if she doesn't want them dead, YOU KILL THEM BEFORE THEY CAN GET TO HER.  Geez, so sick of these characters without a survival bone in their bodies.

Okay, I think I'm done now.  I hope.  I didn't think I'd rage-rant at the end of that but *shrug*.  There you have it folks, my very conflicted feelings for Rising.  Go forth and judge it for yourselves.

Book Review: War by Jennifer Anne Davis

War by Jennifer Anne Davis

Clean Teen Publishing © 2014

Book Three of the True Reign Series

Paperback Edition

Fantasy

Reviewed by Leah

War on Amazon

Okay, everyone stop what you're doing right now and look at that absolutely gorgeous cover!  I'm serious, you can just stare at it this whole time and not read the review, and I wouldn't even blame you.

Being that this is a review, however, perhaps it's time for me to move on…

I feel some backstory is needed here, since my other two reviews for these books were done on GoodReads before this site existed.  Therefore, I shall allow you a glimpse into what you may/not have missed in the first two books.

In The Key we were introduced to two narrators: Rema, a simple horse merchant's niece, and Prince Darmik, Commander of the King's Army.  Thanks to a chance encounter and the watchful eyes of Darmik's spiteful older brother, Prince Lennek, their worlds are turned around in a single instant.  Leaving them both battling against a tyrannical King and heir when their lives are held so thoroughly in their grasp.

Also, watch out for that cliff at the end.  It'll leave you hanging.

Red picks up from the very last second that The Key left off.  Which is a good thing for everyone all around (and especially the author whom everyone wanted to beat to death after The Key's ending).

Immediately, we are taken through a hectic skirmish and frantic chase as Darmik succeeds in baiting the Rebels and forced to face a heartbreaking truth: Rema is exactly who he suspected her to be.  It is a blow he cannot bear, but it clears his head as equally as it confuses him.  Could she not be both the woman he'd come to care for, and the woman who could be the rightful Queen?  Or was this simply a game to her, and he a pawn?

For Rema, the answer is simple, for she is a simple merchant's niece.  Harbored safely in a fortress amongst the mountains, she lives and trains with the Rebel forces, uncertain but grateful as to her rescue.  It isn't until Darmik reveals her true history to her that she knows her own legacy.  And in her stubborn heart, she knows she will not retreat from this position.  And she will do whatever it takes to see her people free of tyranny and injustice.

Now, if only there weren't an Emperion assassin hunting for her…

Summary for War:

Queen Amer Rema of Greenwood Island is now facing her most horrific death sentence yet: being beheaded before the Emperor.  Yet, she takes the news with calm grace when the words leave the assassin's lips as they travel aboard a ship destined for Emperion.  With her first sight of open ocean available to her, she refuses to waste the moment worrying about something that would likely never come to pass.  After all, she'd faced an execution once and lived to tell of it.

Prince Darmik is far more frantic as he gives chase in a commandeered Emperion military vessel.  The very same one that Captain arrived on, but did not leave by.  Hoping to catch the merchant vessel, but planning for more likely scenarios, Darmik and his friends have only one thing to rely on when it comes to reaching Emperion: Darmik's relationship to Emperor Hamen.  He hopes it might guarantee his safety and that of his friends, but he's never had much luck with family before.

The plan is simple: rescue Rema from her second execution and return to Greenwood Island where they might finally end the tyranny wrought by King Barjon and his eldest son, Prince Lennek.  If only things could be that easy…

Review:

I'm throwing the formula out the window here and going with my gut (as I have for the other two books in this series).

I squeed, I eeked, and I awed my way through this book.  Lots of hands covering face, bouncing in place, and giggling to myself.  (Audek, you know what I'm talking about…)  Overall, an enjoyable and lovely read.

Yesterday, I picked this book up round five o'clock.  I read over two hundred pages by the time my boyfriend picked me up.  Today, I have finished the entire novel.  That's two whole sittings that I was able to enjoy this wonderful fantasy world and I reveled in every moment of it.  This is what I keep spouting about the writing: it is beautiful, captivating, and keeps you turning pages.  No matter the content, Jennifer Anne Davis will keep you locked firmly in place until the story is told.

As far as the plot is concerned, it goes a bit something like this:

Rema is on a ship headed to Emperion so that the Emperor can see her personally beheaded.  This is the first time the assassin, previously known as Captain but named Nathenek, has ever had to spend copious amounts of time with his assignment.  So what do they do to pass the time?  He trains her.  While showing her maneuvers that would knock down a man many times her size, to throwing a knife with deadly accuracy.  All with the silken reminder that, should she try anything, there would be no stopping him from fulfilling his mission.

Perhaps my favorite part, and the reason my respect for Rema has grown tenfold in the course of this story, is that she never stops planning to escape.  She doesn't know a rescue party has been sent for her.  As far as she is concerned, it is her job to escape her assassin before her execution and return to Greenwood Island to reclaim her throne.  Despite Nathenek's warnings, she plots and plans.  Even when the reader becomes aware that Nathenek's motives have shifted, it is apparent to Rema that he's still an assassin hired to kill her.  And she tries to get away.

The reason I am so proud of this fact is simple: most heroines don't do that.  They sit back and begin to trust someone so very clearly dangerous and equally out to get them.  Lots of heroines act less like a hero than a damsel in distress.  Rema clearly does not.  She has all the compassion and gentleness of a DiD, but the backbone of Hercules.  And a willingness to survive that overrules all else.  And that is why she surpassed most of the females I've read about recently.

However, in the long series of 'who is this week's book boyfriend' I really have to choose Nathenek.  Though Darmik was his usual heroic self, he's never been my type.  Neco, fantastic as he is, could never be with anyone but Ellie.  Savenek, with his loyalty and courage could make any heart ache.  However, Nathenek is cool-headed, unapologetic, loyal, clever, and just.  He doesn't speak often and gives no explanations or excuses for his actions.  And he is now an absolute beast in my mind.  A very attractive one…

As far as the Emperor goes, he was actually exactly how I had imagined him.  Cold and ruthless.  And I couldn't blame him.  Given his motives--the legitimacy of his throne and the threat of an usurpation--I could easily see how eliminating Rema was his most desirable course of action.  As a leader and paranoid Emperor, he was entirely believable.

This is a very complete ending to the True Reign Series and I am happy with the conclusion.  It is an ending not without sacrifice, but nor is it without some form of peace and even joy.  I highly recommend it to all those who love a story where love conquers all.