When I first read the synopsis of the book, I was really intrigued. I liked the idea of God, or a version of God being reborn in our present world and time. Despite the original ideas, I had a really hard time getting through the whole book.  For the most part, the story was captivating, and I always wanted to know what happened next. However, despite the fascinating scenes, it was too difficult to overlook certain things.

First off, let me say I'm usually ok with a certain amounts of gore and horror. In this book, however, it was it was too vulgar and gory for my tastes. A character getting stabbed in a testicle? I really don't need to read that. Another character getting emasculated after an accident? I see a pattern forming here. And it's not just the gore. I thought it was tasteless to include a scene where a little girl is almost rapped by a foster parent. I had to skip over most of the scene. I can understand if it needs to happen in order to further the story, but please don't make me read through it like any other regular scene.

Justin is by far the most interesting character that I've read in while, I'll give you that. I like that it's never really clear whether he's simply a supernatural deity or if he's actually God with a capital "G". I also like that he was born from immaculate conception. I'm not a religious person so I really don't care whether it's blasphemous or not. Then again, the joke about getting it in the "wrong hole" was another tasteless matter. It's quite interesting to see Justin go from a very serene and beautiful baby, to a trouble-making pre-adolescent. However, as a god, when Justin throws a tantrum, bad things happen which sometimes extends to the entire world. The repercussions can be minor, such as changing most of the population's eyes to brilliant emerald green, or catastrophic, like the disappearance of all money and currency.

The timeline is a little confusing. One moment Justin is a toddler, the next he's a little bit older. How old isn't very clear so it's hard to judge the passage of time. Cassie's timeline is as confusing. She survives an atrocious upbringing as a toddler and then she's thrown into foster care. Her amount of time in foster care isn't very clear and her age only guessed by another character towards the end of the book. As Justin's journey converges with Theodore and Cassie's storylines, I really thought things were going to escalate and lead to something meaningful. However, when the story ended, I was confused and left searching for the point. It feels like there wasn't really any meaning to the story, except destruction and chaos.

Also, the actual writing felt a little clumsy. Like I mentioned, it was difficult to follow the timelines, and the passage of time. The story could have used a little bit more editing and a little less thesaurus use. If you want to say blood, simply use the world blood. Don't describe it as hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells, which is a composition of blood itself. Another grammar error that I couldn't ignore was "genetically disposed" instead of "genetically predisposed." Whether that error was done purposely or not, I'm not sure, but I just couldn't overlook it. My spelling and grammar is far from perfect but I expect a little better from published books.

Overall, the ideas in the novel were interesting but could have used a little bit more finesse and little bit more editing. If gore isn't for you, I would stay clear of this book. Honestly, I can't think of any books to compare it to. It's definitely original, but in this case, that's not necessarily a good thing.

After almost two years, I was really happy when I heard the author had finally published this book. Originally, I thought this series was supposed to be a trilogy but as it turns out, the author had more to write about, and the series will be stretched out into few more books. Honestly, the third book finished in such a weird way and the cliffhanger was so unbearable that there had to be more. The After Series is a really good post-apocalyptic series that explore a varieties of subjects such as survival, honor, love and science.

As I began reading Blood Sky, I was a little bit confused because I couldn't quite remember what had happened in the previous installment. But as the author slowly recapped the previous book, pieces started coming back. Emma and Arthur are still together, and along with their bunch of survivors, they are slowly making their way across Canada to hopefully make their way back to Europe. Their long trek on horseback is honestly a little slow and anticipation was definitely there because I couldn't wait for something to happen. I was actually quite surprised when the group of travelers separated because of conflicting ideas about the mists, the whole reason behind the apocalypse. The mists are scary to begin with since they can instantaneously turn objects, animals and humans into dust, but what's even scarier is the fact that they're beginning to adapt and evolve to the world. While Emma simply wants to eradicate the mists from the world, Arthur starts thinking about keeping them and trying to control them to better the world.

Honestly, I never thought those two would disagree on something so big. I thought they would stick together through everything, especially when Emma made the heartbreaking decision in the previous book to abandon her daughters in order to continue her quest with Arthur. I don't completely agree or disagree with the decisions Emma made but that's what makes her such a great character. She's plagued by some of the decisions she made and her faults make her so much more realistic. Emma might appear to struggle with leadership but she's a strong character, which allows her to surpass anything.

I was a little disappointed with how the book ended with a poker game. While I can appreciate the allusion that life is just a game, personally I'm not a fan of poker and I don't think it makes a great denouement. A poker game really does fit into the world they live in because every decision is a gamble but I would have hoped for more after the game.

I especially liked this latest book because we got to see a whole new side of characters I thought we already knew. New characters are introduced in this book too but I anticipate a big reunion of old characters in the next book. I really hope I don't have to wait two more years for it. Reading this series is definitely not a gamble because it really is a great post-apocalyptic/dystopian series.

https://youtu.be/moBlcXPG33o

When most people think their world might come tumbling down around them, it's more metaphorical than it is for Elijah Kelly.  He lives in a world where cities have taken to the skies to escape a pandemic.  Though biological in nature, it leaves the victims more closely resembling a curse. A werewolf curse to be more precise.

We meet Elijah right as he has his first contact with a werewolf and, as one might guess, it doesn't turn out well.  In a matter of minutes he loses his friend and partner at work and he also gets infected himself.  Since nobody realizes he, too, has been infected, Eli now has to spend the few weeks until the next full moon trying to find a cure, a control or a way to leave their flying city.

These first few weeks for Eli are some of the best parts of the book.  It's were so much of our entrance into this strange world happens.  We start off learning about Eli and his grandmother, Maude and some about Henry, Eli's best friend.  There's enough interaction with the rest of the city that, we get some semblance of life aboard it and even a rudimentary idea of the social structure there.  There quite possibly have been a whole book exploring those aspects of this world.  Later on we get to meet some who have made a place for themselves on the ground but, I won't go into detail there (spoilers).  We do get introduced to some good characters there and that too could have been a tome all its own.

I love the setting.  Nothing says steampunk better than rail yards.  When you combine rail yards with flying machines and overly complicated machinery, that is steampunk at its finest.  Even when the focus shifts to events on the ground, it's still close enough to  the rail yard that the story is able to maintain that environment going.

There are two aspects I didn't quite enjoy once the focus shift to earth.  I won't go into because I feel it gives too much away but the second has to do with credibility.  I really do get the fact that, this is fantasy and odd things happen.  I mean, that's what drew us to these stories in the first place.  There is one thing any work of fantasy must stay true to and that is itself.  There are a few key points where it seemed that the story ignored events that had just occurred in order to keep the narrative going at the pace the author had set.  This could have been to very good books though, I will admit, I'm not sure how that would have impacted future books in the series.

All in All, Gearteeth is a book with an intriguing concept.  There is quite a bit of gore and blood since it's filled with werewolves (and not Labradoodles).  I would put this one as a definite PG13 due the violence and some of the more challenging social aspects.

This fantastic New Adult book has just the right mix of college life, friendship, romance, and ghosts!

Beckon Me is only the second New Adult book I've tried.  I've been hesistant, under the misbelief that New Adult is just YA with sex.  Boy, was I wrong!  If all New Adult is anything like Beckon Me, its more about the age of the characters (college or very young adult) and the depth of the characters' interactions with each other and with the world.

Karina and Rainey, best friends, go out together one night during their freshman year to see a photography exhibit.  In an instant, their lives are changed when they come upon a mugging, and get shot.  In that instant, Karina learns that souls don't die with the physical body; they cross over into whatever is next.  Unfortunately, something goes awry and Rainey's soul doesn't cross over.  It lingers, and it's scaring the crap out of her.  Essentially "haunting" her.

Cindy Thomas has written wonderfully complex characters that the reader can't help but fall in love with.  Reading the scenes where the main character, Karina, is hanging out with first Rainey and then Gabby took me right back to my own college days.  Not only that, but I truly wanted to be in the apartment with them, eating ice cream, watching movies, or going out to a club to let loose.  I think the author did a fantastic job with Karina--writing her character in such a way that we see her internal struggle when it comes to making new friends.  Is it a betrayal of her best friendship with Rainey to accept Gabby's friendship?  Absolutely not!  And are you into romance?  There's this lovely slow build between Karina and Eli, the hot guy next door.  The sexual tension was killing me!  You see, he's not only hot and right next door and a fellow student at Backbay University, he's also witty and ever-present, always making himself right at home with Karina in class or at home.  He's her trainer (more on that in the next paragraph), and he's got a great physique (which Cindy Thomas does a fantastic job describing (fans myself)), and there's a hint of "maybe it's forbidden" thrown in.  No spoilers, but I will let you know that there's no behind-closed-bedroom-doors scenes, in case you're not into that.

As I mentioned, Eli is Karina's trainer.  Rainey's ghost keeps popping up in Karina's life, and this is because she's been marked as a possible Beckoner recruit.  Beckoners are people who help guide souls to the other side.  There are many pros and cons to accepting the job, one of which is that Karina will be able to help guide Rainey's soul, and release her from a purgatory-type place.  I thought this was pretty cool:  Karina essentially gets to "job shadow" or "intern" with Eli before making the final decision.  There are a few months in which they train and talk about all the aspects of the job before she makes her decision.  It turns out it's not as straightforward as Karina thinks.  You'll be kept guessing until the end whether or not Karina is willing and able to accept the danger!

I am so very, very glad I decided to give this New Adult romance/paranormal/friendship book a try, and will be waiting very impatiently for the next book in the duology!

Taya and Mandir have worked through their old grudge in the previous novel and are slowly building a relationship together. Still new and fragile, their new found love will be put to the test when Mandir is sent to his old home and Taya insist on accompanying him.  She is NOT ready for what awaits her. Will their blooming romance hold to the test?

I am extremely lucky to serve as a Beta reader for Amy and she makes things so easy for me. It's the third or fourth book I've read for her, and I haven't found a single mistake yet. The coalition mages series might be self-published, but it's just as (if not more) polished as the next traditionally published book.

The first book in the series, The Fire Seer, introduced a rich fantasy world with an original lore involving three Goddesses. Now that we are fully emerged in this culture, Raby focuses her story-telling on the character's psychology, their developing romance and a very surprising murder investigation. The story really flows nicely and the rhythm is very natural.

I think my favorite aspect about the novel is how Raby wisely chose to show us how Mandir grew-up. In the previous book she told us, but this time we get to witness first hand the violence and the depravity the poor guy had to deal with as a kid. It was truly shocking, and it really allowed the reader (and  Taya) to really understand how Mandir tics.

Taya served as an anchor for Mandir in this novel and I really appreciated it. She supported him the best she could, without judgment and full of compassion. An ordinary girl would've run away, but Taya is not ordinary. And she will risk her own neck not to save only him, but also other victims of Mandir's father. Truly commendable.

The murder investigation was really great. There were multiple possible culprit and the hunt for clues was very engrossing. I loved that it was not predictable and that i discovered the culprit, and his motive, alongside the main characters.

I really enjoyed The Fire Seer and Her Quradum and I am definitely awaiting the next novel. I wonder how the new addition to Taya and Mandir's traveling group will affect their journey and if those characters are temporary friends or long term additions.

I strongly suggest you give this oriental flavored fantasy story a try. I bet you won't be disappointed!

What if your destiny wasn't set in stone? What if you could change it? That's exactly what Ivy and Adrian are hoping for because if Destiny has it its way, Adrian is bound to betray her. And it might just crush them both.

The Beautiful Ashes is the first book in a new series by Jeaniene Frost, and I truly enjoyed it. The one thing that fells weird though, is that I am so used to reading Jeaniene's books in the Cat & Bones & Vlad world, that if I hadn't known she had written Beautiful Ashes, I probably wouldn't have guessed. Don't get me wrong, both series are equally awesome, but they are soooo different, Broken Destiny doesn't scream Jeaniene Frost, you know? I guess I'll get used to it lol

Ivy really impressed me with her inner strength. She starts the book as a loony girl (because she sees things everyone else can't see) and when her sister goes missing, and her parents die while looking for her, she choose to investigate and stumbles into the world of Archons (angels), Demons, and sexy-as-it-gets Adrian. Despite the whole thing being quite the shock (to say the least) she takes everything is stride and commits a 100% to rescuing her sister. Her determination is unwavering in front of less-than-stellar chances of success and her devotion is commendable.

Adrian is too damn good to be true, and it's the correct definition. Sexy as a god, with impossible abilities, the guy is also full of secrets and bound by his destiny to betray Ivy. I truly liked him. He was the perfect blend of bad boy aiming for redemption, yet not quite succeeding. He has a crushing past, revenge on his mind, and yet the best of intentions he can get, but it still isn't enough.

The two of them were magnetic together and I loved watching them collide, argue and fight will battles. In dire moments, their complicity was spot-on yet they couldn't stand to be in the same room most of the time. Both of them together really was like a weird tango, both parties trying to dominate. Adrian clearly has the advantage, but it won't stop Ivy to keep pushing.

Secondary characters were also great and I wonder how big of a part they will play in the next installment.

Frost blessed us with a plot filled with danger, cliff-hangers and twist-and-turns that would make a roller-coaster proud. She drops each bomb-like revelation at the right timing, destabilizing both the characters, and the readers.

I was highly satisfied with the conclusion and I can't wait for the second Broken Destiny installment. Ivy's  quest, and her relationship with Adrian will keep me riveted to the pages I'm quite sure! The Beautiful Ashes is a must-read for Jeaniene Frost fans and new readers, both.

 

CURSED has a great blend of urban fantasy and procedural, with a nice helping of romance on the side. The first book in a new series from the writing duo of Jeanne C. Stein and Samantha Sommersby, CURSED employs Greek mythology but with a creative twist: the series centres on Emma Monroe, one of three Sirens cursed by Demeter for letting Hades make off with Persephone a long, long time ago. Even though they got her back, Demeter cursed Emma and her two unnamed sisters to live forever, saving young women and punishing them if they fall in love. In Emma's case, Demeter killed the man she married a few days after the ceremony. Demeter be pissed, guys.

As a Siren, Emma isn't gifted with super strength of accelerated healing; all she has is the gift of extreme persuasion, which puts her in danger every time she uses it, even if it's to save one of those endangered young women in her position within the FBI. Emma's in a very-losable-just-maybe-if-she-gets-lucky-winnable kind of situation. How could I wait so long to read this?


Emma and her new partner Zack Armstrong, a werewolf with a past life as a Black Ops sniper, are tasked with finding a missing artist, a case that eventually draws them into a much larger mystery involving multiple missing people. There are some really neat twists and turns that I won't give away but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the reasons that the artist (and everyone else) disappeared.

Of course, Emma and Zach have something of a history, which makes things a bit tangly on the romantic front. Emma spends a lot of time fighting her attraction to Zach because she doesn't want him to die if Demeter finds out the depth of her feelings. It's a nice Catch-22 since it avoids the insta-love HEA you can find in some other series in the genre while also giving readers the romantic element they might be craving. The chemistry between Emma and Zach is off the charts and it gives CURSED some steamy interludes.

All in all, CURSED is a great start to a series, by two seasoned writers (Samantha Sommersby and Jeanne C. Stein). They've created a very interesting world and cast of characters and I've already got the next book loaded on my e-reader so that I can find out what happens to Emma next. (CURSED ends in a really powerful way and I'm so happy that I have RECKONING at my fingertips.

P.S. This cover model totally reminds me of Amy Acker (who I lurve!). Anyone else feel the same?

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Both Marius and Isolda are judged for what they are not. Marius was raised as a commoner so when he is brought back to court by the Emperor he is judged for his lack of fashion and his simple tastes. Isolda on the other hand is a refuge and is mistreated by nearly every Kjallan, but she's a strong, fierce and smart woman. They will meet in the middle, and even though they have a lot in common, they will have to overcome many obstacles.

I have beta read the last two releases by Amy Raby and I was really happy to get the chance to read this one as well. Healer's Touch is the fourth novel in this series, and even though I haven't read the books 2 and 3 yet, I didn't have any trouble getting into the story. Having read the first book helped a lot to have a better sense of the culture though.

First, I'd like to say that I really enjoyed this book, despite my pointing elements I wish were different. I really liked the small town atmosphere in Healer's Touch and it felt very different from Assassin's Gambit and Archer's Sin. Even though there are explosions, and quite an amazing battle at the end, this novel is rather tranquil in it's essence. Much less action packed than the previous ones, but no less interesting. The focus really is on Marius & Isolda's blooming relationship, their struggles, and their ambitions.

I liked how real and down-to-earth both main characters were and I can only command them for staying true to themselves despite the challenges. I think they were a perfect fit for each other. One element I wish was different is the more carnal side of their romance. There is one sexual encounter that is described rather chastely and mention of subsequent 'meetings', but I really wish there was at least another intimate scene and that it felt more passionate.

The conclusion is hard to describe without giving anything away, but I must find a way because it really left me craving for more, so I will use a metaphor. Let's say to spent the past 7 hours mixing, baking and decorating this awesome cake, and then you can't even take a bite. Someone else does and describes the taste to you. Frustrating right? I really wished Amy presented the conclusion in the form of an epilogue instead of the technique she used. She gives a peek on what comes after, but it wasn't satisfying enough for me, even though I was happy with how things turned out for the characters. Does it make any sense?

In the end, I really enjoyed this book and I urge your to pick up this title even though it isn't published by the same publisher who released the first three titles. For reasons unknown to me, Amy was not contracted for the fourth book, so I really hope you purchase this one (which is really cheap BTW!) and support her :)

Ginger and Luke are tracking her brother Damien. She wants to rescues him; he is tasked to bring him back to face justice. The chase started smoothly, but a lot more then they were expecting happened on the way.

All in is the third installment of the series written by Amanda Carlson and I loved it just as much as the previous ones. I like that even though it's a series of novella, the stories are long enough to really get involved into the characters. The fact that we've met Ginger and Luke in the previous book(s) also added a kinship feeling in the mix and made their budding relationship more believable.

Ginger is a smart woman that has been dedicated to rescuing her brother for years. I really appreciated this side of her, but she's also a self-loathing succubus and I felt bad for her. Her conscience and her desire to not 'parasite' anyone will lead her to extremes and it was quite a roller-coaster ride to witness. Luke is down-right amazing. He is sweet, caring, perceptive, but also strong and fierce. The perfect mix if you ask me!

I truly enjoying the developing romance between those two and their raw feelings felt real. One of my favorite moment was how Ginger described nature to Luke to try and include him in her world, make him see the way she saw things. It was quite endearing.

The plot was quite satisfying even though there isn't much room for twist and turns in a 150 pages long book. The conclusion was spot on and I have a feeling the next novella by Amanda will be about Raoul and a new Elemental girl. I can't wait to read what's next!

Sin City Collectors is a great series! I always enjoy a novella once in a while when you don't quite feel like committing to a full length novel. I mean, who doesn't enjoy a bit of instant gratification once in a while :)

Amy Raby, author of the Hearts and Thrones series, delivered another great historical fantasy story. Set in the mystical city of Hrappa, this novel's basis were launched from a series of discovery on the ancient city, and became so much more in Raby's hands. Her personal blend of fantasy mixed with her great talent to deliver raw emotions, were just the thing to ensnare me from the start.

The Coalition has complete control over magic and Taya came to their temple for training when she developed powers at a young age. It is very uncommon for farmers to develop such abilities and many, including Mandir, resented her for it. She overcame many obstacles and launching on her first mission she wasn't ready to be partnered with her nemesis. She hates him with a passion, understandable since he tortured her and almost killed her, but her body can't help but be attracted to him and now she must relay on him for protection.

Some stories are plot driven, others are characters driven, I would say this one is driven by emotions. Yes, both characters are on a mission to discover and eliminate a jackal (a rogue magic user), but the relationship and raw feelings between the two main characters are front and center, honest and captivating. My favorite aspect of this novel is Taya's grudge against Mandir. What I mean is that he bullied her and tortured her for years and she isn't willing to surrender to sweet words and a sexy body. She kept her wits about her and remained skeptical of his promises. Thankfully, Amy offered us alternative narration and I just LOVED Mandir. His honesty and repentant attitude totally got me.

The narration also alternated between the present and the past, offering a very detailed retelling of exactly how both Mandir and Taya felt 9 years ago when they met, and how he treated her afterwards. Mandir's trek toward redemption is very touching and the fact that Taya takes a long time to weight the good and bad sides of Mandir make the whole situation much more realistic.

The mystery part of the plot was also very satisfying and while some elements were predictable, most completely surprised me. I also found the end to wrap-up things nicely and I really hope there will be a second installment!

This novel is actually quite short, but it doesn't feel so while reading it. I don't mean there are lengths, mind you, but that every aspect is developed enough to feel this novel is just right the way it is. I strongly suggest you give it a shot!

WHO NEEDS ENEMIES is a departure for Arthur -- but a departure of the best kind. You can't go into this novel expecting the usual blend of ultra sexy heroines, supernaturals, and mystery. Instead, in her first self-published effort, Arthur delivers something much more lighthearted, but which still retains her characteristic wit and flavour.

The star of WHO NEEDS ENEMIES is very different from Riley, Risa, and the rest of Arthur's heroines. Harri Phillecky is not, in any way, alpha. She hasn't got superpowers, she isn't backed by any agency, and she lives a fairly unremarkable life. She's also an outcast -- part elf, part siren, rejected by both races. All Harri has are her friends, who are a bunch of ogres who take over her home for beer and TV, a dragon, a brother she doesn't see very often, and Ciri, Harri's best friend and partner in the PI industry. They're very much a motley crew but they're a lot of fun. We get to spend a fair bit of time with the ogres but I wish we'd learned more about Ciri, who's part gargoyle and incredibly intriguing. Harri has made a life for herself as a paranormal investigator (and sometimes as a news photographer), surrounded by her circle, but things escalate to a whole new level when the only elven relative willing to speak with her asks Harri to look into a missing siren.

As you would expect in a Keri Arthur novel, things immediately get complicated. Harri's dragon friend Keale gets accused of flying drunk and killing a helicopter full of people, Harri is set upon by trolls, and more. It's a very well crafted story that will keep you on your toes until the last page. I never knew where the story was going to take Harri and it was extremely fun for me, trying to figure out how the mystery surround Mona (the siren) would resolve itself.

On the downside, there are some copyediting issues. Small things, like capitalisation and spelling errors, but it's frequent enough that I noticed. It didn't mar my enjoyment of the story but it might throw you out of the story if you're one of the people who really notice things like this.

The Sin City Collectors is such a fun series! For those who don't know, it's a series of novellas written and self-published by a bunch of author friends. So far, there are novellas by Amanda Carlson and Kristen Painter, but more authors will join later on. Each novella is set in the same world, and featuring a different pair of main characters.

This time around we meet Diesel, a werewolf who completely looses control on the full moon, and Sofia, a witch hunted by an incubus. Once again a fun installment with great characters! With only 120 pages to build the plot and romance happens pretty quickly, but these two characters already met because they are part of previous novellas so it makes even more sense when the passion unravels.

Diesel was a great alpha male and even though I didn't fall unconditionally in love with him, I liked him just fine. He has an history that scarred him and made him more real and I liked his determination and desire to protect. His affliction also made things interesting. I really, really liked Sofia! I think she's fun, smart and brilliant. I loved how she dealt with Neve (a dhampir from a previous novella) and her attitude issues. She isn't a damsel in distress even though she needed help and I command her for it.

Fun but somewhat predictable, the plot still provided great entertainment. It's hard to build something intricate with such a small number of pages, but the story was well-rounded and the conclusion satisfying.

If I had one small complain it would be the secondary characters name. Diesel's brother is called Luke, and they work with a gargoyle called Jake. Both names were just too similar for a comfortable read, I kept confusing the two of them.

It seems novella #5 will feature Ginger and Luke and I can't wait to read it!

Queen of Hearts is the second novella in this multi authors novella series, and unlike what I expected this one is featuring a new set a characters, Claudette and Jason.

I really enjoy this series and the world where it's taking place. It's surprising how authors manages to write such rich stories with so few pages, especially when each story is written by a different author but it works perfectly. Even though Carlson and Painter each have their own flair, the transition between both novellas was really smooth and I can only command them for it.

The plot really was a fun ride with Claudette falling for her target and turning all white knight on him. Of course they fall for each other a bit too quickly, but it can't be helped with a 100ish pages story. They developed a nice chemistry though and I enjoy it. The introduction of grimalkins and gargoyle was a pretty nifty idea!

The conclusion was stressful but once again satisfying and I can't wait to know who will be featured next and which author will write that story!

I really like Amanda's Jessica McClain series so when I discovered this novella I knew I had to read it. Aces Wilds is part of a multi-author series and I don't know how it will play out, but it started strong with this short story and mission accomplished, I'm hooked.

Nevada had to pretty much raise herself because of her absent dad and alcoholic mother and life has been hard for her. She lives a life of violence as a collector of offending paranormals and her life is about to take an abrupt turn. Being paired up for a job is odd, but being paired with Jake is down right ridiculous. They have an history together and it makes for an highly entertaining read. I love how Amanda built this relationship believably with barely over a hundred pages.

Not only the relationship was credible, the characters are magnetic and the plot is addictive. I was hooked to the pages, which is a rare feat for a novella, and I must command miss Carlson.

I really enjoyed the world in which the series is set. The Sin City is colorful and so are the characters. Hints of the next featured heroes were dropped at the end (I satisfying end by the way..) and I can't wait to read the next installment.

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy, but it would've been a well spent 3$. Give it a shot!

I love finishing a good trilogy but I find it's always bitter sweet. Especially when it's about an amazing paranormal world with amazing characters. With THE FAERIE WAR, I really enjoyed reading the conclusion to Violet's and Ryn's story but on the other hand, the author created such a wonderful world that it's hard to let go of it. It feels like so much more could be told about the life of two main characters now that the story has reached its end. Also, because the world she created is so vast and colourful, I really hate letting it go.

The end of book 2 was such a shocker and while I didn't want to reveal too much in my review The Faerie Prince, it's impossible to review this book without mentioning it. So slight spoiler, be warned, but nothing the synopsis doesn't reveal. At the end of book 2, Violet is so upset and mortified by what her actions caused that she literally makes herself forget everything. She remembers nothing about herself except her name. This final book of the trilogy opens with her being alone, and captive of a group of Reptiscillia, reptilian fae that usually don't look kindly upon guardians. Even if Violet doesn't remember being a guardian, her marked arms identify her as one. The fact that she can't remember anything doesn't help her case and the Reptiscillia are even more suspicious of her. It's interesting to learn more about this amazing fae world through a blank slate, and Violet's amnesia definitely makes her a blank slate. She eventually befriends them and they become unlikely allies in a dangerous fae war.

The first two books concentrate on faeries mostly but now since the whole fae world has been plunged into a cold war, we see the different fae races band together to fight evil, which include creatures like the Reptiscillia, elves, mermaids, etc. Draven, the new self-proclaimed leader of all fae has genocidal ideas to cleanse the race, or at least eliminate any threat to his power. A teenager suffering from a broken heart, Draven is driven mad when he comes in contact with the evil power of Tharros, an ancient evil that was thought long forgotten. With his newly found power, his brainwashing abilities allows him to gather an army of faerie guardians and other strong fae. Obviously, a broken heart plus an army equals a very bad idea.  This is my only major issue with the story. I have a hard time understanding how being dumped would make a boy turn into something so evil, but probably the lure of Tharros' power would make any normal person insane and irrational.

My favorite part of the novel is the interactions between Violet and Ryn. Apart for so long because of Violet's captivation and Ryn's quest to find the only weapon against Tharros, the couple's burgeoning relationship is called into question because of  Violet's memory loss. Ryn's confusion is obvious and as a reader you really feel his anguish over not being remembered by the girl he's given his heart to. Violet can't help but not remember her feelings for Ryn, and while Violet feels an attraction to this boy, even with her amnesia, she fears she could never be the old Vi, the Vi he fell in love with. It makes for an interesting relationship problem and an intriguing twist to the story.

I find the writing of this novel not as fluid as the previous two, but overall, I'm really pleased with the conclusion of the trilogy despite it ending so soon. The war is over, and despite all the losses, it feels like Violet and Ryn's story isn't quite finished. It leaves us with too many possible options. Rachel Morgan has gained a spot on my author radar, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for her future releases. This trilogy proves that indie books shouldn't always be ignored and this is definitely one you don't want to snub.

Let me start off by saying that this series is fast becoming a favorite of mine. This sequel has surpassed my expectations with all its twists and turn. When I thought things couldn’t get any crazier, they did. Personally, I think if a book has the ability to surprise me like this one did, the author must be doing something right. Add to the fact that it’s well written, I would definitely recommend the book to any fans of the genre.

Violet, or V to her friends, is the main character and narrator of the story. As the protagonist in a young adult book, she’s definitely up there will all the great strong female characters we’ve seen over the years. She might be a little naive about some aspects of the world, and she does have her little moments of insecurity, but when it comes to kicking butt, she can totally keep up. There aren’t as many fight/action scenes in this book because it concentrates a little more on story building compared to book 1, but it really was thrilling. The slow build up in the relationship between V and Ryn couldn’t have been done any better and I’m really curious to see where it will go. It seemed inevitable that the two characters would end up liking each other, but I love the way the author kept the suspense by not pushing things too fast.

There are so many surprises in THE FAERIE PRINCE that I can’t really list them all. Plus, if I were to list them all, it would be major spoilers and that’s not my intention. One thing I really didn’t expect is the story behind Violet’s father’s death. I almost didn’t believe it at first and I still question it, after learning the truth. I think knowing the truth will change V’s perspective on life and will definitely impact the development of the series.

I think I mentioned it in my review of book 1, but it’s hard to believe that this series is self-published. Personally, I find it’s so well written that it could have been published by any of the major publishers. I’ve been looking at the covers because they reminded me of a series, but I just couldn’t think of which one. It finally hit me that visually they look like Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. They are very similar, and I think fans of one series, will definitely enjoy the other. The esthetics of the Creepy Hollow covers are very pleasing and initially, it’s one of the first things that grabbed my attention.

If it weren’t enough that the story and the characters are original, the scenery and the faerie world illustrated in the book will sweep you off your feet. I mean, not only does the book have pegasi(!), it’s the little things that amaze me like, the ambers that replace the smart phones of our world and the way the characters travel by faerie paths. And Filigree! Violet’s “pet” is a shape-changing being that I would love to have as my own. One moment he’ll be a pig, literally pigging out, then he’ll curl up on Violets lap as a cat. It would be wonderful to have a pet that changes shape according to its mood and its owner’s mood.

This book was flipping amazing and I can’t wait to get to book 3! If you haven’t already checked out this series, I highly recommend that you do. Inexpensive as eBooks, they are definitely worth the read.

I sure do love Sierra Fox. Despite being hunted by the Obscurus and experiencing all sorts of crazy, life-changing events, she's still a sweetheart. A sweetheart who will kick your butt in a minute if she thinks you're doing wrong but a sweetheart nonetheless. Her tough exterior can't hide her squishy marshmallow insides, not when we see how much she cares for the people in her life. She'll face down evil with a letter opener if it means helping her loved ones, and it's a trait you have to admire, especially since she's not gifted with super strength or healing. Sierra is a  powerful spook catcher but she's as physically vulnerable as the rest of us, which gives her story a little extra oomph.

At the start of TORN FROM THE SHADOWS, things are pretty good for Sierra and company. Sierra and Papan are madly in love, Willow is settling in, Roe and the new spook trainers are getting into a routine, Ebony has come back to herself for the most part...but it wouldn't be a very exciting book for us if things stayed on such an even keel and death, phantasms, demons, and more come flooding out of the woodwork before you know it. There's a lot going on and it's all quite exciting. And it all advances the overall series plot even though the parts of the book may seem like disparate threads: Mace is back as a phantasm, another old "friend" is also causing trouble, Sierra has to train the newbie spook catchers, Willow takes in a stray dog, Ebony and Oren make cow eyes at each other, and Papan and Sierra are trying to find time to enjoy their relationship. And that's the first half of the book. Sfetsos does a great job of taking these storylines and building and building the novel to its exciting climax and I thoroughly enjoyed each page.

While juggling her familial responsibilities and her battle to stay ahead of the Obscurus, Sierra also discovers more about her grandmother and the extra abilities Pepita gave her. And this was really interesting to me. I love it when a series mythology blossoms and the Sierra Fox series gets really juicy in this respect in TORN FROM THE SHADOWS. Everything is really building to a head, which will hopefully come to an amazing conclusion when the fifth and final book in the series comes out.

Another plus about TORN FROM THE SHADOWS? We learn a lot more about Papan's background. For the first time, we get to see his family and learn a bit more about how werewolves operate in this world. Despite this, I don't think we got nearly enough page time with Papan this time around. When he's there, he's his usual fabulous self -- and he and Sierra spend a significant number of pages getting smexy -- but I didn't get nearly enough of his humour. And Papan's storyline ends in something of a cliffhanger so I'm quite curious to see what his fate will be as the series comes to a close. I won't spoil it for you but I will say that things are definitely up in the air for him, and consequently for his relationship with Sierra.

On a personal level, I really enjoyed getting into a book set in Sydney. Having been to Australia over Christmas to visit my brother, I was lucky enough to spend a couple weeks there and I can know safely say that Sfetsos does a great job of creating a sense of the city in TORN FROM THE SHADOWS  and all the other novels in the series. Admittedly, the series is set in a fictional suburb but I think I enjoyed TORN FROM THE SHADOWS just a teensy bit more from having been in Sydney recently.

I'm a huge fan of this series and I highly recommend that you urban fantasy lovers out there give Sfetsos' writing a chance if you haven't already dove into her work. The Sierra Fox series is outstanding.  You won't be sorry.

Read an excerpt (click on Excerpt tab)

I had the immense honor to be a beta reader for this novella, a strike of luck really because I stumbled upon Amy's requests for early readers, and let me tell you, I didn't have any negative feedback to give her! I really enjoyed this novella and it fits right into the spirit of this amazing series.

The events of this story take place about 5 years after the events of Assassin's Gambit (Spy's Honor, the second book in the series is actually a prequel, in case you didn't know), and while you could technically read this novella first, I'm afraid you might be a little lost and not completely grasp to importance of some events.

We meet Nalica and Justien, two giant archers from the country side, competing in a festival for a high position of guard of the city. It's a very coveted price in a world where mercenary for hire isn't as popular as it used to be and I truly loved that this novella featured archery almost exclusively. I followed each step of the tournament from the edge of my seat, and the conclusion simply baffled me!

I really appreciated the growing complicity between our heroes, and while they were quick to business, as I guess it was the custom back then, I really think they fit well together. They faced some moral issues and they didn't always agree so it made for interesting exchanges.

I'd also like to mention that despite the series being published by Signet, this novella is self-published, and Amy designed this cover herself. I think she did a pretty fine job!

If I had a small downside to mention, and it's no big deal really, it's that I don't really get the title. Archer, yes of course, but sin? Neither heroes committed a sin I can think of, but really, it's just a detail!

This novella is for sale for less than a dollar and it's worth every penny. You should definitely give it a shot, especially if you liked Assassin's Gambit.

Woooooo, more Ilona Andrews! If you know me, you know I love this husband-wife writing duo and so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a copy of CLEAN SWEEP. (Thank you, Ilona!) Be forewarned: this is a short novel by their standards, coming in at about 60,000 words, but it's an absolutely delicious 60,000 words so I doubt you'll feel short-changed.

CLEAN SWEEP started out as a free e-serial on their website and I really enjoyed following Dina and her adventures. But as much as I enjoyed the serial, it's even better when you have it in e-book format, so that there's no waiting, no clicking, just page after page of well-written thrills. In some ways, CLEAN SWEEP is more similar to Andrews' The Edge series, since it focuses on Dina, an Innkeeper to all sorts of aliens and supernaturals, and her immediate surroundings, as opposed to the Kate Daniels books, which have a much broader scope. For me, this is a plus because I adore The Edge books (and the Kate books!) and I really loved how the authors create such a wild adventure basically in someone's backyard.

One of the most fun parts of CLEAN SWEEP is definitely the series mythology. Innkeepers are neutral parties who play host to all manner of guests and have a magical link to the inns they guard/live in. These aren't your typical inns: they take in guests from across the galaxies, resulting in some very interesting moments. Dina, for example, has one permanent guest, Her Grace Caldenia ka ret Magren, a delightful older lady with a taste for Funyons and flesh who resides at the inn to avoid bounty hunters and galactic persecution. And Her Grace is only one of the interesting characters we meet in CLEAN SWEEP: there are also vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings. And the writers definitely make these species stand out from others in the genre. Werewolves, for example, were genetically engineered on a different planet and vampires are also extraterrestrials whose behaviours make humans believe they are undead. They also have a very unique reaction to caffeine!

There are associations and rankings for these inns, just like regular accommodations. Dina's a new Innkeeper and her inn had been neglected for some time so she's got the uphill battle in terms of reputation. An inn needs a strong reputation to attract guests, after all, and Gertrude Hunt (Dina's Inn) had been hibernating long enough to fall into disrepair. That, combined with Dina's newbie status, means that Gertrude Hunt only has two stars, and can't afford to lose any. Innkeepers have magic but their abilities are strongest at their inns and they weaken considerably off the grounds, which makes sense given that they are, y'know, innkeepers. :) Despite this, Dina is determined to face the unknown creature menacing Red Deer, Texas, even if it means venturing off inn grounds. And this is one of Dina's most endearing qualities: her strong sense of right and wrong, even when it puts her at risk. She's also clever, brave, and determined, traits characteristic of an Andrews' heroine. The men in CLEAN SWEEP are also well developed. Sean, the werewolf, is a Bad Boy through and through while Arland, a vampire, is more of a gentlemanly rogue. The e-book has some fantastic illustrations that really give you a good sense of the characters and I think they're a lovely addition to the novel.

Like all good stories, there are some questions left unanswered in CLEAN SWEEP. Dina mysteriously lost her parents while she was away at college -- we still don't know what happened to them, though I hope we'll find out as the Innkeeper Chronicles continue. Dina has two siblings we haven't met yet. We've only touched the tip of the Innkeeper world in CLEAN SWEEP and, given what I know of Andrews' writing, we can expect some amazing surprises in future instalments. I believe that they will be writing another free Innkeeper serial this year -- and I can't wait!

Read an excerpt

The dystopian genre has been quite popular in the last couple of years, especially when it come to Young Adult books, but truthfully I haven't read many that are outside the YA subgroup. The After Trilogy (or series?) has frankly been a great discovery and I'm a big fan of the concept and the story. As an adult dystopian book, I think it's a nice change from the YA genre books that I'm used to reading, since it does allow for darker and more mature themes. If you thought dystopian books only worked for YA, Traci L. Slatton will prove you wrong.

The post-apocalyptic mists destroy everything in their path, and for those who were lucky to avoid being engulfed by these mists, it either transformed them into ruthless survivors, crazy psychopaths, mindless imbeciles or changed ordinary people into heroes. The main character, Emma, is one of these heroes because the appearance of the mists has given her the ability to heal with the simple touch of her hands. Her story is a complicated one, and her dedication to her family and to those she loves brings out the best in her. She is a true survivor, doing anything and everything she needs to do in order to survive and keep her family and friends out of danger, even risk being held prisoner in order to free her lover, Arthur, from torture at the hands of their nemesis. I really admire what she goes through to save Arthur, and while I don't necessarily agree with her actions, I can understand where she's coming from. Leaving her husband and daughters behind, she embarks on a mad mission to free her lover. I find it a bit shameless to leave a husband behind in order to save another lover, and while she did believe her husband dead in the beginning of this new relationship, she does cause him a lot of pain by bouncing between the both of them.


Arthur is a strong and intelligent man, and I can definitely see why any woman in her right mind might be attracted to him. What began as a business transaction between Arthur and Emma turned into romance and love. Their relationship is a complicated one for sure and even if I'm completely against infidelity, I think they make a great pair and I really hope everything ends up in their favor in the end.

Actually, many survivors find love over the course of the series and I think those stories are important in order to balance out the death and the destruction of this post-apocalyptic world. I love how detailed the secondary characters are and how their romantic relationships are present too. Truthfully, I think the author's character development is phenomenal because she really makes you care about each and everyone of her characters. The camaraderie between the characters also balances out the darker themes of the book, and truthfully, just makes is more interesting to read. The series is really about the human condition so it's also nice to see how different characters deal with the new struggles of this post-apocalyptic world.

This series definitely keeps getting better and better! Mysteries about the Arthur and the origin of the mists continue to be revealed and the mists begin to evolve into something stronger and more organized. I was introduced to this series as a trilogy but I really hope it doesn't end with book 3. Emma and Arthur's story is definitively not over and I can't wait to see how things will unfold. I would absolutely recommend this series to any fan of dystopian books, especially those who want to branch out from YA dystopian series that seem to be dominating the genre lately.