Giveaway: Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman

In her Morris Award-winning and New York Times bestselling debut, Rachel Hartman took our breath away with an utterly original alternative-medieval world full of dragons, Seraphina. This novel took the literary world by storm with 8 starred reviews and appeared on numerous “Best of” the year lists. Now Random House Children’s Books is proud to announce the release of SHADOW SCALE. At last, Rachel’s eagerly awaited sequel has arrived—with an epic battle between humans and dragons.

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together

they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

Random House is offering 1 copy of Seraphina to celebrate the release!

Open to US & Canada only

Ends March 10th, 2015

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About the author: As a child, RACHEL HARTMAN played cello, lip-synched Mozart operas with her sisters, and fostered the deep love of music that inspired much of her award-winning debut novel, Seraphina. Born in Kentucky, Rachel has lived in Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, England, and Japan. She now lives with her family in Vancouver, Canada. To learn more, please visit RachelHartmanBooks.com and follow her on Twitter @_rachelhartman.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Action amp; Adventure, Dragon, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, giveaway, Random House Childrens Books, young adult  Leave your mark

The Dragon Conspiracy by Lisa Shearin

[I'm writing this post very quickly due to work commitments so please don't mistake my brevity for anything other than a lack of time. THE DRAGON CONSPIRACY is a wonderful book from one of my favourite authors and I wish that I could do it justice with this post.]

With THE DRAGON CONSPIRACY, Lisa Shearin has gotten even more awesome! (I didn't think this was possible.) I was thrilled with the first book in the SPI Files and Shearin's done a remarkable job of making the characters and world more exciting in this, the next instalment.

This time around, SPI's turf has been invaded by an evil Russian dragon named Viktor Kain. He's shown up with the Dragon Eggs in tow, magical jewels with largely unknown powers. He claims it's to sell them but the eggs ended up getting stolen. Needless to say, an unhappy dragon, a mystery foe, and a flock of harpies (do harpies travel in flocks?) lead to a an exciting adventure for the readers, and extreme peril for Makenna, Ian, and the rest of SPI. We get to learn more about some of the other races that inhabit the series, which I enjoyed. I'm always interested in learning more about the worlds that authors create and Shearin has explores some new groups to the series, like harpies and gorgons. They're not terribly different from what you might expect but I particularly enjoyed her take on gorgons, which was neat. Shearin has a talent for taking existing ideas/beings and giving them a unique twist -- remember the grendels from THE GRENDEL AFFAIR? -- and I think she's done it again with the gorgons. I won't say too much to avoid potentially spoiling things for you but I will say that the SPI Files are a series to watch if you're looking for strong examples of world building.

We also get some nice insights into some less explored characters, like Rake Danescu. In many ways, THE DRAGON CONSPIRACY is Rake's chance to shine, which I enjoyed quite a lot, even though he's not exactly a good guy. Shearin is a master at writing bad guys shaded in grey, with just enough of a sexy rascal in them to make you root for them. (Tam fans, anyone?) She really gets to play with Rake this time around and his scenes are some of the best in the book. Of course, there are cracking scenes with Makenna since she always manages to get herself into awkward situations, especially when Ian's around. They give us some of the laugh-out-loud humour I expect from Shearin's writing -- and THE DRAGON CONSPIRACY does not disappoint. Other characters also have their moments to shine, which was very satisfying.

THE DRAGON CONSPIRACY contains all of Shearin's trademarks: witty dialogue, a winning protagonist, and a plot that doesn't quit. I can't recommend Shearin's work enough so I hope I've inspired you to give the SPI Files a try!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Dragon, Lisa Shearin, Penguin, Publisher, Review, SPI Files, Urban Fantasy  5 People left their mark

Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper

You're in for a treat if you decide to pick up this book. I dove right into it, only knowing that it would be about dragons and I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that it was a historical paranormal novel involving dragons, magic and romance. You can't really blame me because I tend to be attracted to anything dragon so I didn't read the synopsis, but if I would have, I would have known that the book was set in Victorian England. I'm quite glad the book doesn't have any steampunk elements like most Victorian paranormal series seem to have these days.  However, one might find some similarities to well known series such as The Parasol Protectorate because of the eccentric characters, the comical comments and the constant presence of tea. Fans of Gail Carriger will most likely enjoy this new series and it will surely please a good amount of historical romance buffs.

Mina Seymour is the perfect main character for this novel because while she is a free thinking and independent woman of Victorian England,  she still believes and follows society's morals. While she might like stretching the rules from time to time, and does consider herself a modern woman, I really appreciate the fact that the author didn't modernize Mina too much and ruin the historical elements. She's a working class secretary/typist and absolutely has no part in the London scene, which is uncommon but refreshing for an historical romance novel of this era.

Her relationship with Lord Stephen MacAlasdair begins as a working relationship, Stephen hiring Mina as his personal secretary because of extreme circumstances and because she unexpectedly finds out he's a dragon. As things heat up, they become more and more attracted to one other which creates wonderful scenes between the characters. Obviously, living in the same house will do that to a couple and Stephen has given himself the role of protector since Mina is now at risk from a supernatural attack because of her links to him. Stephen is a mystery that unravels as the story progresses, but for some reason, despite his imposing stature, he really didn't do it for me. His personality was a little bland and he was a little hard to read. However, his feelings for Mina, and the scenes they shared alone together did make up for that small detail.

I really enjoyed reading the banter between Mina and Stephen, and their inability to ignore one another, even after agreeing that being together would be sociably unacceptable. One of the minor letdowns of the book is that with all the heat and the buildup of lust, Mina and Stephen finally fold and make love in a disgusting building full of grime and dust. I don't see the setting as romantic and I thought it was a poor choice. I can understand kissing while waiting to be rescued, but to actually do the deed for the first time in a creepy setting, it's not too pleasant for the reader, let alone for the characters.

Isabel Cooper keeps my obsession with dragons alive with this new series of hers. I can't wait to read the next installment, not just to see what happens in Mina and Stephen's lives but also to read more about Colin, Stephen's brother. Cooper has only briefly introduced us to her world of dragons and magic and I hope she elaborates on it in future books. This fast paced book is easily addictive if you like dragons and historical romance.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:36

 Adult, Dragon, Highland Dragon, Historical, Historical Romance, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Victorian England  Leave your mark

Fury of Desire by Coreene Callahan

Wick's story is finally here! It feels like I haven't read a Dragonfury book in forever, even though it's only been a year since the previous one was published. The first three books were published only a few month apart, so prior to this fourth one, I guess I felt lucky to be able to buy and read them so close to one another. After about a year of waiting, we finally get to read Wick's story and let me tell you, the wait is definitively worth it.

Wick is the sort of character that grows on you because of his mysteriousness and his bad boy attitude. A loner and a guy that doesn't say much, we didn't get to know him all that much in the previous books. In FURY OF DESIRE, we finally understand why he's  such a broken character and why he will go to such great lengths to avoid contact with another dragon or human. His past is a dark one and I feel very sympathetic towards him and his sad childhood. Even though it's to be expected, I'm actually happy that he found a mate of his own to love and to protect him from his past.

Personally, I find J.J. (or Jamison) is a character full of clichés. A girl that was in an abusive relationship, she was forced to take matter into her own hands when her boyfriend threatened to kill her sister, Tania. In jail for killing said boyfriend, she's then abused by a horrible prison guard and she will do just about anything to be set free. Especially after getting beaten close to death, which lands her in the hospital with life threatening injuries. In comes Wick to save the day. So in my opinion, quite a cliché character and relationship, but still very entertaining. The scenes between Jamison and Wick are delightful, and even if Wick is a character that doesn't say much, the dialogue between the two is so entertaining.

I love how this series is expanding with each new book. At first, the series concentrated on dragon conflicts within the city of Seattle, but now the war between dragons is going international. Many different background characters now play a role in the battle between "good" dragons and "bad" dragons, some by simply backing it financially while others trying to get involved first hand. The world of dragonkind politics is a complicated one and I think Coreene Callahan has only given us an brief introduction. I anticipate more plot twists and intrigue in future books.

A paranormal romance at heart, like all the other books of the series, FURY OF DESIRE isn't without a good dose of action. However,  it feels like there was a little less romance in this one, compared to the first three, but that made the scenes between Wick and Jamison that much more precious. The romance will leave you desiring more, while the action will keep you on edge. I probably said it before, but I highly recommend this series, if you're a fan of the genre.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:10

 Adult, Coreene Callahan, Dragon, Dragonfury, Montlake Romance, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Romance, Shapeshifter  1 Person left their mark

Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott

Having bought LUCK OF THE DRAGON on a whim, I wasn't sure what to expect from Susannah Scott's debut novel. I loved the idea behind the novel so I was pretty excited to give it a try. Overall, I found LUCK OF THE DRAGON to be an enjoyable story, though there were some aspects of the novel that didn't work for me.

On the positive side, I love the idea that there are dragons hiding in plain sight in Las Vegas. It's such a cool idea and it makes a lot of sense. There's so much showmanship and performance in Vegas -- where better to hide your shapeshifting ways? Although I've never been to Las Vegas, I think it's a great setting for stories with supernatural characters/events and Scott does a great job of incorporating elements of the city into LUCK OF THE DRAGON.

I also really liked Lucy and Alec. Alec is that hyper alpha male but he avoids being a total alpha-hole, to use a phrase I've seen floating around the blogosphere a fair bit this year. He's definitely a charismatic leader but he does acknowledge the differences between himself and Lucy, and tries to give her time to get used to him, even when he knows that she's his destined mate. I love characters with strong personalities, and I love it even more when these same characters are capable of more tender emotions and thoughtfulness.Alec is a good character but, hands down, Lucy was my favourite person in the whole book. As a grad student, I'm a sucker for heroines who have their PhDs, plus I love a good had-a-hard-childhood-but-turned-things-around character arc, which is Lucy's background in a nutshell. I get really invested in characters who have beaten the odds (haha, the first -- and hopefully only -- unintentional gambling reference!) and Lucy has overcome a rough youth to become a strong, smart businesswoman. Unfortunately, Lucy comes with a really dumb brother, who I couldn't stand. Joey was TSTL on so many levels. And as much as I understand the lure of the thrill and of gambling, and as much as I believe that this type of addiction is a real problem, Joey didn't seem real to me. It felt like he was there as a plot device to get Lucy stuck in this mess with Alec and his rivals and so he was very one-dimensional. Thankfully, most of the other characters are nicely developed and well fleshed out, so it's a minor problem. For the most part, Lucy and Alec are surrounded by an interesting cast and I'm glad to know that this is the start of a series.

In terms of plot, LUCK OF THE DRAGON is pretty straightforward. Lucy has to help Gino rob Alec because Joey owes him. What could be a straightforward caper because a bit more complicated by the destined mate business, and also by the fact that Lucy really doesn't want to be a criminal. On the more dragon-y front, Alec is trying to unite all of the dragons under his rule, and has to constantly combat a major thorn in his side. Midway through the book, there's something that I think is supposed to be a big reveal this reveal seemed pretty obvious early on LUCK OF THE DRAGON. Although this didn't lessen my enjoyment of the novel too much, I do wish that there had been a bit more complexity to the non-romantic storylines.

Overall, LUCK OF THE DRAGON is a fun paranormal romance. It's not a perfect book but I really enjoyed getting to know Lucy and Alec and the world they live in. If you're looking for a steamy book with dragons, then this might be for you. Be sure to check out the excerpt to get a taste of the novel.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:30

 Adult, Dragon, Entangled, Las Vegas Dragons, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, Review, Susannah Scott  Leave your mark

Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Trade paperback: 304 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Release date: November 6, 2012

Series: Elder Races #5

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two mates find themselves on different paths, torn between their duty to the Wyr and the passion that binds them…

Before she met Dragos, half-human/half-Wyr Pia Giovanni was alone and on the run. Now she’s mated, pregnant and heading south to repair the Wyrs’ frayed relationship with the Elves. Being separated from Dragos is painful, but for the good of the Wyr demesne they need to figure out how to be partners—in more places than just the bedroom.

In New York to preside over the Sentinel Games, Dragos is worried about his mate, but knows that finding two replacement sentinels is essential to show the rest of the Elder Races just how strong and brutal the Wyr demesne can be. But as the Games heat up, Pia’s negotiations with the Elves take a turn for the dangerous, straining her bond with Dragos and threatening everything they hold dear…

It's been a while since I immersed myself in the Elder Races world and, boy, is it nice to be back! I've read some of the stories between this book and DRAGON BOUND, the first book in the series, which I reviewed last year but I couldn't stop myself from picking up LORD'S FALL when I saw it at the library, even though I'm not completely caught up on the series. And while this is the fifth book in the series, it's only the second book to focus on Dragos and Pia, so I don't think my reading suffered for having skipped the short stories and ORACLE'S MOON because Thea Harrison does a great job of catching you up on the big strokes in the series mythology. So the first good news of this post is that if you loved Pia and Dragos in DRAGON BOUND and want more time with them, you can safely pick up LORD'S FALL with minimal difficulty. Pia and Dragos are still settling into their mated relationship and working out what it means for them to be partners, so since they're just six months into things, and it's great fun watching them negotiate the path they plan to walk for the rest of their lives.

There are two main plots in LORD'S FALL: (1) Dragos is running his Sentinel Games to find two new sentinels (well, seven sentinels total but he hopes his remaining sentinels will be victorious in the games to keep their spots) and (2) Pia is off trying to make peace with the elves after Dragos chased her into their demesne back in DRAGON BOUND. This forces the couple to spend large parts of the book apart, but it actually made the story better for me because we get to see them on their own. It shows the reader how strong their feelings are for each other but also demonstrates that they are still very individual, though they are working on building their partnership. It's an intimidating prospect for both of them since Dragos is ancient and set in his ways, and Pia is a babe in the woods in comparison. But they're both committed to discovering how their partnership will work and it was quite interesting to revisit this couple beyond the initial falling-in-love stages of their relationship. Some of my favourite series are the ones with the same couple front and centre, because we do get to see them deal with the everyday issues that come in a relationship.

We also get introduced to some great new characters. I really liked the folks who go with Pia as her guards. They bring a fresh perspective to the book and a lot of humour. And we get to see a lot of Pia in her role as diplomat, trying to mend fences with the elves. I liked this new role on her and I can't wait to see how else she will grow. And the Sentinel Games were interesting because they gave us some insight into Wyr culture and also because they had the potential to significantly shift the face of the Wyr demesne and, consequently, future novels.I won't spoil it for you but I will say that you'll be happy with the seven individuals who emerge as sentinels at the end of the games, because there's a nice mix of familiar faces and intriguing new ones.

Dragos and Pia are a great couple in paranormal romance and I loved having them centre stage in LORD'S FALL. (And make no mistake, there is a fall in this one.) Harrison can do no wrong with this couple and I sincerely hope we don't have to wait another four novels for our next instalment of their love story.

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Posted by jenn at 07:06

 Dragon, Penguin, Review, Thea Harrison  2 People left their mark

Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison

It's been a while since I immersed myself in the Elder Races world and, boy, is it nice to be back! I've read some of the stories between this book and DRAGON BOUND, the first book in the series, which I reviewed last year but I couldn't stop myself from picking up LORD'S FALL when I saw it at the library, even though I'm not completely caught up on the series. And while this is the fifth book in the series, it's only the second book to focus on Dragos and Pia, so I don't think my reading suffered for having skipped the short stories and ORACLE'S MOON because Thea Harrison does a great job of catching you up on the big strokes in the series mythology. So the first good news of this post is that if you loved Pia and Dragos in DRAGON BOUND and want more time with them, you can safely pick up LORD'S FALL with minimal difficulty. Pia and Dragos are still settling into their mated relationship and working out what it means for them to be partners, so since they're just six months into things, and it's great fun watching them negotiate the path they plan to walk for the rest of their lives.

There are two main plots in LORD'S FALL: (1) Dragos is running his Sentinel Games to find two new sentinels (well, seven sentinels total but he hopes his remaining sentinels will be victorious in the games to keep their spots) and (2) Pia is off trying to make peace with the elves after Dragos chased her into their demesne back in DRAGON BOUND. This forces the couple to spend large parts of the book apart, but it actually made the story better for me because we get to see them on their own. It shows the reader how strong their feelings are for each other but also demonstrates that they are still very individual, though they are working on building their partnership. It's an intimidating prospect for both of them since Dragos is ancient and set in his ways, and Pia is a babe in the woods in comparison. But they're both committed to discovering how their partnership will work and it was quite interesting to revisit this couple beyond the initial falling-in-love stages of their relationship. Some of my favourite series are the ones with the same couple front and centre, because we do get to see them deal with the everyday issues that come in a relationship.

We also get introduced to some great new characters. I really liked the folks who go with Pia as her guards. They bring a fresh perspective to the book and a lot of humour. And we get to see a lot of Pia in her role as diplomat, trying to mend fences with the elves. I liked this new role on her and I can't wait to see how else she will grow. And the Sentinel Games were interesting because they gave us some insight into Wyr culture and also because they had the potential to significantly shift the face of the Wyr demesne and, consequently, future novels.I won't spoil it for you but I will say that you'll be happy with the seven individuals who emerge as sentinels at the end of the games, because there's a nice mix of familiar faces and intriguing new ones.

Dragos and Pia are a great couple in paranormal romance and I loved having them centre stage in LORD'S FALL. (And make no mistake, there is a fall in this one.) Harrison can do no wrong with this couple and I sincerely hope we don't have to wait another four novels for our next instalment of their love story.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:55

 Adult, Dragon, Elder Races, Library, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Review, Thea Harrison  1 Person left their mark

Silent Warrior by Lindsey Piper

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
eARC: 80 pages
Genre: Paranormal romance
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release date: April 22, 2013

Series: The Dragon Kings #0.5

Source: eARC via Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon

An exciting, emotionally charged prequel to the Dragon Kings trilogy featuring warriors fighting for their lives in violent cage matches to guarantee their clans’ survival—available exclusively as an eBook!

A silent woman ashamed of her criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.

SILENT WARRIOR is the digital prequel to Lindsey Piper's upcoming CAGED WARRIOR, the first full-length novel in a new paranormal romance series featuring dragons. SILENT WARRIOR gives us a taste of the really interesting world Piper has created, though I still have a lot of questions about the series' mythology, possibly because I haven't read CAGED WARRIOR yet. This is probably why I found SILENT WARRIOR to be a bit muddled at times.

In Piper's world, there are five clans of Dragon Kings. The two main characters in SILENT WARRIOR are both from the Sath clan, who are known as thieves because they are able to temporarily steal the powers of other dragons. They're also hoarders and secret keepers. (The other clans aren't as relevant to this story and I'm not entirely certain what each clan's gifts are.) There are different classes of Dragon Kings, and some of the most skilled fighters are known as Cage warriors. They fight in monthly Cage matches for the cartels that enslaved them, though I'm not sure how exactly these folks get enslaved in the first place. (See how I'm a bit muddled?). I realize there's not a lot of space in a novella and expect to come out of it with some questions about series mythology, but I felt adrift at certain points in SILENT WARRIOR. Despite my confusion, I still got enough of a sense of the world to appreciate how gritty and dark the atmosphere is, and to look forward to seeing everything fully explained (fingers crossed!) in CAGED WARRIOR.

Generally, I really liked the two main characters in SILENT WARRIOR, Silence and Hark. They meet as opponents in the Cage and end up hitting the mats in a very different way, after beating the crap out of each other in the ring. Hark is so irreverent and I loved his banter. He's a great foil for Silence in many ways, and I loved the interplay between the two characters. And even though SILENT WARRIOR is only 80 pages, Silence and Hark's chemistry and connection come off as very real. There's a roughness to their demeanour and relationship that had me believing in them as individuals and a potential couple. The page count was low enough that you can't expect to learn their whole histories but Piper does a remarkable job of developing their characters from the first page. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think novellas are incredibly difficult to write well and Piper has done a top-notch job with character development in SILENT WARRIOR.

I'm intrigued enough by the setting that Piper has created to want to jump right into CAGED WARRIOR, if only to answer the questions I have about the social and historical makeup of the Dragon Kings world. If you're thinking about trying SILENT WARRIOR before CAGED WARRIOR, you should check out the glossary that Piper has created. Otherwise, you may find yourself a bit lost, or staring off into space as you try to figure out what it means to be a Dragon King.

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Posted by jenn at 00:01

 Dragon, Lindsey Piper, Review, Simon Schuster  1 Person left their mark

Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 406 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release date: January 29, 2013

Series: New Soul #2

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Personal shelf

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Newsoul trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

Jodi Meadows blew me away last year with her debut release, INCARNATE, and while I really enjoyed this sequel, I think the first book of the series was just too hard to beat. In ASUNDER, we learn so much more about the fantastic world the author has created so I can’t really complain. Many of my question after book one were answered here, yet so many other questions arose. Jodi Meadows knows how to keep you interested because after ASUNDER, I’m definitively still hooked.

While I like that there are so many different and great characters, personally, I find them too numerous. Some of them are unmemorable and I just get confused when they are reintroduced after being “forgotten” for a while. However, the dynamic between the dominant characters is absolutely a win. Ana and Sam are simply adorable but I did find them a bit clingy. It’s almost as if they can’t be without one another and as the main character, Ana should have shown a little more independence and self-sufficiency. As a new soul, I understand she might not be as educated as the rest of them, but her naivety still bothered me. However, she made up for that by being very curious and inquisitive, which are qualities that a really admire. Sam is so patient with her and that makes me love him even more. Their romantic relationship might not be typical when you compare it to most YA novel, but I think that’s what makes it so interesting.

While most of the story is held in the city of Heart, it would have been nice to learn more about what’s beyond the city and beyond the country of Range. So many other beings and creatures exist this world, and while be do get some snippets from time to time, I’m really anxious to know more about this fictional world. I think Jodi Meadows is holding out on us and saving it for the end of her trilogy.

The imagery in this novel is one of my favorite parts. Not only is the world beautifully described, Jodi Meadows also has the talent of serenading her readers with musical scenes. Because music plays such a huge part in the characters lives, music and instruments have a near constant presence in the story. The only thing I regret is not being able to actually hear the amazing musical pieces, but the way the author describes them, it’s almost as if you can truly hear it through the emotions of the characters.

Overall, ASUNDER is an absolute win, even if I did prefer the first book of the series a little more. With a cover like this, I had to purchase a physical copy in order to add this gorgeousness to my shelves. It’s hard to imagine that this series will end in a trilogy next year, and while I’m looking forward to it, it will be sad to say goodbye to Ana and Sam.

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Posted by Unknown at 06:45

 Dragon, Fantasy, Harper Collins, Jodi Meadows, Review, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Knight Awakened by Coreene Callahan

Knight Awakened by Coreene Callahan

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
ARC: 443 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release date: December 4, 2012

Series: Circle of Seven #1

Source: Publisher (via Jenn)

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In AD 1331, warlord Vladimir Barbu seizes control of Transylvania. But in spite of his bloody triumph, his claim to the throne remains out of reach. The king of Hungary opposes his rule, the Transylvanian people despise his brutal ways, and the high priestess needed to crown him has vanished without a trace. But Barbu hasn’t come this far only to be thwarted by a woman. He unleashes his best hunters to track her down and bring her to him — dead or alive.

For Xavian Ramir, killing is the only life he has ever known. Torn from his family when he was a child, he was trained from an early age to be an elite assassin. But now he longs for something more, vowing to start anew after one last job. The bounty on his target’s head is enough to set him up for good — if he can resist the long-dead conscience that stirs to life when he meets his beautiful mark.

Afina Lazar never wanted to become high priestess, but the brutal murders of her beloved mother and sister leave her no choice. Now she is running for her life, desperate to protect the magical amulet entrusted to her care. But when Barbu’s assassin comes for her, she realizes her only chance of stopping the warlord’s rise to power is to convince this enigmatic — and handsome — hunter that she is more valuable alive than dead. Dramatic and fast-paced, Knight Awakened is a stirring love story between two people searching for a second chance in a magical world of assassins, warlords, unearthly beasts, and nonstop.

If you’ve been following my reviews here on Tynga’s Reviews this past year, you might have noticed how much I’ve enjoyed Coreene Callahan’s Dragonfury series so far. It reminds me so much of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series because of the brotherly bond between the warriors and the intense bond they share with their mates. While this newest series of hers has those qualities, it’s a forage into a different genre altogether. Although KNIGHT AWAKENED does have a few dragons, the story concentrates more on the high priestess Afina Lazar and her bodyguard of sorts, Xavian Ramir who has declined the task of bringing Afina to the evil warlord Vladimir Barbu for a bounty.

This book promises non-stop action in a wonderful historical setting of greedy lords, yummy warriors and humble heroines. I really enjoyed the first book in this new series mainly because of the admirable characters and dragons shapeshifting dragons. The main characters, like in all Coreene Callahan books, are unforgettable. Afina has the right amount of strength and tenacity to survive and protect her niece while being hunted by an evil warlord. It’s her dedication to goodness that makes her an admirable and loveable character. The fact that we see her grow as a character in a short amount of time, makes her a more believable character. As for Xavian, he might seem like your typical warrior but his history and dark past add depth to his character. He is undoubtedly haunted by the things he’s done as an assassin and feels unworthy of Afina’s love.

While the story itself can seem like your typical woman-in-distress-meets-strong-warrior, I have no problem with the storyline because for me, that type of hook will never get old. It’s what happens during the rest of the novel that keeps you entertained anyways. Afina is wanted by many parties because of her magical powers and her high priestess title. As she runs away with Xavian from anybody that wants to harm her, an obvious bond starts to form between the two. I’m glad the author didn’t rush the relationship between the two. I’m not going to reveal too much about Afina’s magical powers and her quest because finding out everything is one of the charms of this book.

There’s a huge cast of secondary characters in this book, which made it hard to keep track of them sometimes. That’s probably the only negative thing I have to say about the novel. I understand the author wanted to introduce us to all the members of her prophesized Circle of Seven (the name of the series), but I think it’s the additional characters like the dragons, the bad guys and the various townspeople/household members that made it hard to keep track of everyone. Despite this minor inconvenience, the story is still very clear and enjoyable.

I have a guilty pleasure for historical paranormal romances and KNIGHT AWAKENED was able to satisfy my craving for the genre. There’s something special about this genre that makes me want to read more of it. With some of the secondary characters being shapeshifting dragons, I believe this Circle of Seven series might be a prequel of sorts to the Dragonfury series. If that’s true, I can’t wait to read more of either series so I can learn more about the magical world of Coreene Callahan’s dragon shapeshifters.

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Posted by Unknown at 07:00

 Coreene Callahan, Dragon, Magic, Montlake Romance, Review  7 People left their mark

Coreene Callahan's Top 10 Dragon Tips + giveaway!

We're skipping Daring You To Read this week because we have a guest post from Coreene Callahan, author of the Dragonfury series, which Stéphanie loves!

As the only girl on all guys hockey teams from age six through her college years, Coreene Callahan knows a thing or two about tough guys and loves to write about them. Call it kismet. Call it payback after years of locker room talk and ice rink antics, but whatever you call it, the action better be heart stopping, the magic electric, and the story wicked, good fun.

After graduating with honors in psychology and working as an interior designer, she finally succumbed to her overactive imagination and returned to her first love: writing. And when she’s not writing, she’s dreaming of magical worlds full of dragon-shifters, elite assassins, and romance that’s too hot to handle. Callahan currently lives in Canada with her family and writing buddy, a fun-loving golden retriever.

Stay tuned for Coreene's Top 10 Dragon Tips and enter to win a copy of her latest Dragonfury book, FURY OF SEDUCTION!

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I don’t know about you, but I’m a big believer in the slogan “knowledge is power”. That kind of attitude has saved by tuckus more than once, enabling me to stay healthy while writing about dragon-shifters. They are, after all, a difficult—think…crazy, secretive, sometimes violent—bunch. And tend to get upset when I reveal things Dragonkind would rather we not know. Secrets like, oh say, their strengths and weaknesses, how and where they live along with—

Well, I could go on, but prefer to stay alive, so…

Today, I decided to share my top ten Dragon Tips. The ones that will help you recognize the warning signs and get the heck out of Dodge if necessary. I hope each stands you in good stead should you ever come nose-to-scales with a dragon-shifter in a snit or ah-hem…a more amorous frame of mind.

Top 10 Dragon Tips Everyone Oughta Know:

1. Dragon-shifters are notorious pranksters, so be careful—you start it, they’ll finish it…every time.

2. Never piss off a frost dragon. You’ll end up in a cryogenic deep freeze.

3. Never lend a dragon-shifter your car. Dragons love to drop things from high places, just to see them go crunch. He’ll call it a scientific experiment while you’re calling your insurance company.

4. Invite a dragon-shifter to dinner. He’ll not only cook for you (flambéed entrees in an instant!), but bring an excellent vintage from his wine collection too. Serve it up hot, sprinkle on some sexy, and enjoy HIM along with the meal.

5. Dragons fear water. There is, however, one exception to the rule…Mac (the hero of FURY OF SEDUCTION). So before you drop the towel on the deck to take a midnight dip, check the bottom of the pool. Mac’s been known to “borrow” one every now and again.

6. Never play poker, strip or otherwise, with a dragon-shifter. You’ll end up broke, homeless, and probably naked too.

7. Dragons love to show off. Ask yours to take you on a midnight flight. You’ll get a bird’s-eye view and the ride of your life...during and afterward.

8. Dragons love to give chase. So don’t run…unless, of course, you wish to be caught and thrown into an erotic free-fall toward the nearest bed. (*sigh* We should all be so lucky!)

9. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire…which probably means Wick is in the area. Stay inside and away from the windows. Hiding under the bed is advisable too, cuz yeah…Wick finding you? Not even close to a good idea.

10. Courting a dragon-shifter’s forgiveness? Treat him to a night filled with the THREE Ls: laughter, lingerie and lots of loving. Works like a charm every time. He’ll forget his own name, never mind what upset him in the first place.

So there you have it. The Top 10 list of Dragon Dos and Don’ts. A huge thanks to Tynga’s Reviews for inviting me to visit today. It’s been great fun! To learn more about the Dragonfury Novels and my Circle of Seven series, stop by my website www.coreenecallahan.com. I’d love to hear from you!

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Thanks for visiting us, Coreene! What a great list!

Want more Coreene? You can find her online at her website or on Facebook, or Twitter.

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More about FURY OF SEDUCTION:

Successful landscape designer Tania Solares prides herself on living by her own terms, relying on no man to provide for her. But her carefully controlled life takes a turn for the extraordinary when her inquiry into the disappearance of her best friend thrusts her between two warring factions of dragon-shifters. Suddenly Tania’s survival depends on Mac, a newly initiated dragon-warrior who will break every rule to keep her safe.

Now that Tania knows the truth about Dragonkind, returning to her old life is too grave a risk. Ivar, leader of the Razorbacks, plots to decimate the human race, and Tania is just the tool he needs. Despite the danger, Mac cannot deny her a choice: Trade the independence she’s fought so hard to achieve for safety in a magical world, or turn her back on the man she’s grown to love in order to reclaim a freedom that might not last? It is an impossible choice. And yet a sacrifice must be made…

Stéphanie's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

To learn more about the first two Dragonfury books, click on the covers!

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Coreene is graciously offering one (1) print copy of FURY OF SEDUCTION to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

Ends Thursday, December 13, 2012

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by jenn at 05:41

 Coreene Callahan, Dragon, giveaway, Guest Post, Montlake Romance  31 People left their mark

Fury of Seduction by Coreene Callahan

Fury of Seduction by Coreene Callahan

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Paperback: 449 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: November 13, 2012

Series: Dragonfury #3

Source: eARC from the publisher

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Successful landscape designer Tania Solares prides herself on living by her own terms, relying on no man to provide for her. But her carefully controlled life takes a turn for the extraordinary when her inquiry into the disappearance of her best friend thrusts her between two warring factions of dragon-shifters. Suddenly Tania’s survival depends on Mac, a newly initiated dragon-warrior who will break every rule to keep her safe.

Now that Tania knows the truth about Dragonkind, returning to her old life is too grave a risk. Ivar, leader of the Razorbacks, plots to decimate the human race, and Tania is just the tool he needs. Despite the danger, Mac cannot deny her a choice: Trade the independence she’s fought so hard to achieve for safety in a magical world, or turn her back on the man she’s grown to love in order to reclaim a freedom that might not last? It is an impossible choice. And yet a sacrifice must be made…

There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s something special about this Dragonfury series. Not only did she create a wonderful kind of dragon shapeshifter, but Coreene Callahan has succeeded in creating great characters that have you coming back for more. I think, FURY OF SEDUCTION has been my favorite of the series so far, especially since it features one of my favorite dragons, Mac.

Mac hasn’t been a dragon for a long time. Actually, he’s only known about his true nature for a few weeks now. He has always been drawn to water, especially when he was a Navy SEAL. Now that he knows he’s a water dragon, everything makes sense. The only problem is, water dragons are very rare, especially since one water dragon wants to remain the only one in existence and will do pretty much anything to eradicate any new water dragons, including Mac. It’s a good thing that Mac has joined the Nightfuries, warriors who will do anything to protect humankind. They have vowed to fight against the Razorbacks, who plan to kill off the majority of humankind and who have made this rogue water dragon one of their own.

Of course, this book wouldn’t be complete without the romance between Mac and Tania. Unfortunately, like all the other books in this series (and many paranormal romance book, truthfully), I found love was mentioned too soon and without any real foundation. What seems to bound these dragons to their mates is a strong energy that inevitably makes them fall in love. Not very realistic, I know, but a girl can wish for a strong and buff dragon of her own, can’t she? This has been my only problem with the series so far. The fated mate thing can get repetitive, so I hope author creates more obstacles in the relationships in the future books.

Nevertheless, Tania and Mac seem to be well matched. She’s the type of woman that never really trusted men since she’s always been afraid of revealing her emotions in fear of rejection. On the other hand, Mac has always been a one-night-stand kind of guy and has never thought of trying for a relationship until Tania stepped into his life. Since Tania is one of the prime targets for the Razorback breeding program, Mac will stop at nothing to protect and save her from kidnappers.

While Tania’s background story was very detailed and developed, I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t learn more about Mac’s past. However, because of his relationship with the rogue water dragon, I’m hoping more will be revealed in the future books.

The first two books introduced us to the silent war between the Nightfuries and the Razorbacks, and focused mostly on characters in the Seattle area. Now, with FURY OF SEDUCTION, Coreene Callahan has expanded her story to Europe and introduced other major key player of this war. I have a feeling we have only skimmed the surface of this secretive dragon world and I suspect were in for quite a ride in the upcoming books. If you’re a fan of dragons and/or of hot and dominant shapeshifters, do try this series if you haven’t already. I love that they’re reasonably priced for the kindle and kindle apps, since I’m the type of person that hates buying e-book for more that $5.

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Posted by Unknown at 07:00

 Coreene Callahan, Dragon, Montlake Romance, Review  1 Person left their mark

How To Drive a Dragon Crazy by G.A. Aiken

How To Drive a Dragon Crazy by G.A. Aiken

Book Stats:
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 481 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Release date: September 4, 2012

Series: Dragon Kin #6

Source: ARC from publisher

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Some things never go away, like vile enemies, bad ale, and annoying kin. But I thought I was finished with the one dragon I'd have done anything for: Eibhear the Blue, a big, gorgeous, blue-haired beast who thinks the world belongs to him. The world and, apparently, me.

So if Eibhear wants to play the caring hero and travel into the most forsaken of Gods forsaken lands to protect the one woman who doesn't need it - namely me - I'll let him. Because while I'm trying to fulfill a ridiculous quest for a pushy god, I'm going to draw this over confident warlord much too close, rekindle his fires, and enjoy every minute of his delicious defeat...

In my review of Dragon Actually, I told you I had a thing for dragons. Let me just say, that hasn’t changed since reading HOW TO DRIVE A DRAGON CRAZY. Actually, I might be a little more gaga about dragon shifters, now that I’ve read this book. Where the first novel in the series lacked story and action, this book has a whole lot more of everything. It’s filled with action, fantasy adventure, fights, dragon humor, great dialogue, great characters and lets not forget the awesome romance!

I think what makes this book a success is the great interaction between the two main characters. Izzy and Eibhear are a great combo and have that type of chemistry that keeps you interested in the book. Eibhear the Blue is a blue dragon that has always been hard to control, and as part of the Mì-runach, an elite group of warrior outcasts, no woman before Izzy had dared to try. For Izzy, the blue dragon stole her human heart when she was only a teenager and after healing from a broken heart, she rose up in the ranks of Queen Annwyl’s army, became a general and was made the chosen champion of a dragon god. Now, as a strong female warrior, little can hurt her emotionally—except maybe if something bad were to happened to her dog. Obviously, the two characters together make a strong (but obstinate) team and they’re more or less forced to work together throughout the novel. Verbally, Izzy is not too happy about this, but mentally she’s quite actually enjoying her time around her favorite blue dragon.

The story offers a lot of adventure and Izzy and Eibhear embark on a quest to find someone to help Izzy’s younger sister in her ability to control of magical power. Obviously, since the two characters are so head-strong, they can’t agree on many things. For example, where the dog should sleep. But little by little, they find a way to work together and I loved how the author made every step of the journey hilarious.

However, one thing that I wasn’t to fond of, is the crazy amount of point of views. At first, it was very hard to follow the story, and the break in the flow had me close the book multiple times. Eventually, the shift in perspectives became less frequent as the story began to center around Izzy and Eibhear. I’ve probably said it many times before that I’m not a huge fan of shifting POV, but I completely understand that it was necessary to tell the whole story. I just think instead of having POV that sometimes only lasted about half a page, the author could have committed a bit more to each character.

Now that I’ve read the first and the latest book of this series, I’ll have to go back and read the rest! More books are obviously already on the way and I can see at least three more stories that need to be told. This series has definitively gotten me out of my YA reading funk. It reminded me why I enjoy reading paranormal romance so much. Because I love the romance! The Dragon Kin series is hot, steamy and will definitively have you laughing. Especially if you love brazen and smart-alecky humor. G.A. Aiken obviously writes books to entertain her audience and not to pen out literary masterpieces. Personally, I think that’s a good thing because it makes her books so much more entertaining and easy to read. If this sounds like something for you, then you should really give her books a try if you haven’t already. You can also check out the books she writes as Shelly Laurenston, which are very similar but concentrate on packs of animal shapeshifters.

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Posted by Unknown at 05:45

 Dragon, Fantasy, g.a. aiken, Kensington, Magic, Review, Witch  3 People left their mark

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Book Stats:
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Release date: September 1, 2008

Series: Dragon Kin #1

Source: Personal e-shelf

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

It’s not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear-a lot-or else salute. It’s true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother’s soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.

Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly, and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe-a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fills her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn’t get any stranger.

She’s wrong…

And just wait until you meet the rest of the family…

Ever since reading Fury of Fire and Fury of Ice by Coreene Callahan, I’ve been intrigued by dragons. Ok, maybe I’m interested in the Alpha male dragon characters more than anything else but I when I stumbled onto this series by G.A Aiken, I knew I had to give it a try. Also writing as Shelly Laurenston, this author writes steamy and funny paranormal romance and the romance in this book does not disappoint.

In DRAGON ACTUALLY, you actually have two stories, the main one about Annwyl and Fearghus, and an extra short story at the end about Fearghus’ parents. Although I enjoyed both, this review will concentrate on the main story since it is the focus of the book. Annwyl and Fearghus were very enjoyable characters but compared to other characters of the genre, these two seemed kind of flat and not quite as developed as I would like. The sexual chemistry was definitively there and their witty banter was noteworthy. What saved the story is the humour and the hilarious conversations between the characters. The author did an amazing job with the character interactions but I wish there would been more depth to the characters, and more to the actual story. I have to hand it to G.A. Aiken— she does know how to write a good love scene and her steamy and sexy love scenes were definitively present in this book.

Annwyl is a strong female human warrior that leads the rebel army again the tyrannical human King—her brother. Obsessed with killing her brother, she has thought of nothing else since he tried to kill her when they were both children. When she’s outnumbered in battle and about to be killed by her brother’s men, she miraculously stumbles upon a dragon’s cave and is saved by a dragon named Fearghus. Unable to leave the cave because of her battle wounds, Fearghus enlists the help of others to heal and train Annwyl in order to help her face her brother in battle. Together they try to overthrow her brother harsh reign but things might not necessarily go as planned as Fearghus isn’t truthful about his identity (or maybe I should say identities…). The plot is obviously very basic but I still enjoyed reading about the romance between Annwyl and Fearghus. Fearghus is absolutely Alpha male enough to live up to my dragon character expectations.

More dragons characters are introduced in this story and they all have their individual quirks and character traits. I think the author does a great job in introducing the main characters of her future novels. I have a soft spot for Fearghus’ brother, Éibhear the Blue, and I can’t wait to read his story.

Like I said before, I wish there would have been more to the story. I will definitively give the rest of the series a try, hoping the storyline will improve. This type of humour is exactly what I’m looking for whenever I’m in a reading slump, and hopefully the next books of the series have more world and character building. Personally, I find when you combine great humour to paranormal elements, you’re always in for a nice treat.

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Posted by Unknown at 07:00

 Dragon, Fantasy, g.a. aiken, Magic, Witch  4 People left their mark

Daring You To Read… Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Daring You To Read is a weekly feature here on Tynga’s Reviews where we dare you to read some of our favorite older releases (at least 6 months old). All the books/series we choose to feature are titles we adored and think you should give them a shot! We think it’s a super awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!

You’ve already read the book? Let’s us know what you thought!
You are accepting the dare? We’d love to know!
Have a dare of your own? Leave a comment ^^

This week I am daring you to read INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows. I almost broke the 6 months rule a couple of time since I’ve been wanting to dare you to read this book for a long time.

INCARNATE tells the story of Ana, who is a Newsoul. Unlike other people living in Range, she is completely “new” instead of having been reincarnated many times over the last 3500 years of so. Unsurprisingly, Ana is considered different, even a bad omen. Her mother hates her. Her father abandoned her as an infant. And everyone blames her for the disappearance of Ciana, the soul she has "replaced." Of course, none of this is her fault. When Ana sets out to live her own life after 18 years of abuse from her mother, she finds misfortunes… and some good things.

Jodi Meadows is a genius for having created this wonderful world and I love the way she describes it. She added so many enticing things to her world including dragons, a masquerade, butterflies, and music. And lets not forget the coffee (mentioned 30 times!), the tea (mentioned 9 times) and the mitts (variation of the word mentioned 11 times). Obviously, I’m crazy about these last three things...

Although, I think it would be great to be reincarnated over and over again and be aware of it, I can't imagine how hard it would be to always try to surpass your previous self. Like Sam, one of the main characters, I think I would get bored with some things and try to learn new things every reincarnations.

INCARNATE is a wonderful debut novel. Things in this series can only get better. A must read YA book.

More about Incarnate, book 1 of the Newsoul trilogy:

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

So, will you take the dare this week?

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Posted by Unknown at 06:15

 Daring You to Read, Dragon, Harper Collins  4 People left their mark

Defiance by C.J. Redwine (Double Review)

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Hardcover: 416 pages 
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release date: August 28, 2012

Series: Defiance #1

Source: Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Stéphanie and Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Lili’s Thoughts

Baalboden is a walled in city that thrives under the command of Commander Chase and fears The Cursed One that resides underground in the Wasteland. Here, the women must be given a Protector at age sixteen. They cannot leave their home without said escort and when they turn seventeen, a man will court them and they will become a wife. Such a thing is necessary to the survival of a colony of people that do not leave the walls. One of the few people that is able to leave the walls is courier Jared Adams, Rachel’s father, and he never returned from his last mission…

DEFIANCE is a book that I had trouble putting down. It’s very easy to slip into the Baalboden dystopia because you truly feel for the characters. Rachel is a strong heroine. At such a young age, she does her own thing and will not allow herself to behave and look to men to save her. Jared raised her with the knowledge of self-defense and instructions that she can always be independent. With her fiery red hair, skin-tight pants instead of skirts, and billowing black cloak, she is a force to be reckoned with. (Just look at that amazing cover and you’ll see how kickass Rachel’s character truly is).

Logan McEntire sees too much of his mother in Rachel. When he was a young boy, his mother was lashed to death for breaking the law and wandering into the market without a Protector. He simply cannot let Rachel meet the same end. A brilliant inventor and big-hearted protector, Logan cannot allow Rachel to know his true feelings for her because Jared was so willing to help him after his mother’s death and he didn’t want to bite the hand that fed him. Thus, he gently let her down when she once admitted to being in love with him. Their relationship had never been the same, but Logan will stop at nothing to protect her now that she is in his custody. He cannot fail, especially because everyone expects him to.

Together, the two of them will take you on a survivalist’s journey of a lifetime, all while evil Commander Chase breathes down their neck. The Commander’s evil tendencies oozed off the pages and filled you with rage. While he is a man that nobody can respect, his characterization was spot-on and he is one villain that’ll make your shiver whenever he makes an appearance.

Redwine expertly created her characters and the world surrounding them, making their journey easy to follow and completely unforgettable. The romance was believable and you watched both characters slowly mend themselves before they realized that they are capable of loving each other, even with Jared’s disappearance.

A must read for any young adult reader, this is a debut to look forward to in 2012. With an ending that you’ll never see coming, you’ll practically be begging for the sequel. Redwine exploded onto the young adult writing scene with a story unlike any other.

Stéphanie’s Thoughts

We couldn't decide who was going to review this novel so Lili and I decided to do a double review. I'll try to keep this short since Lili has done such a great job with her review.

DEFIANCE is so much more than a story about defying the rules and regulations. It's about fighting for what you think is right and sticking by the ones you care about. It's also a tale of love and fighting through hardships, no matter what life throws at you. I think many teens (and adults) can related to the themes of the story, despite it being a dystopian novel.

At first, I thought it was a true dystopian novel, but as I read on, I realized that it does have one little (or big) paranormal element to it. The Cursed One, a fire breathing monster, has wreck havoc over the whole world by incinerating everything in its path. This has created the need for secure cities surrounded by huge walls, in order to protect the inhabitants. Baalboden is such a city but Rachel Adams does not feel protected nor safe within its walls. Her father, a courier, has gone missing outside the walls and has been pronounced dead. Since Rachel doesn't believe him dead she decides to go searching for him in the dangerous lands outside the wall.

Rachel is very different from the rest of the girls in Baalboden. First, her father has taught her the basics in self-defence. Second, she feels like she shouldn't be "claimed" by a man once she turns seventeen, like all the other girls in the city. Her independent streak and her common sense tells her that she should be able to care for herself and that she should be allowed to walk the streets of the city without a man guarding her every move. However, one man has caught her heart. She has been in love with Logan for years and now, since her father has not come back from his courier mission, he is pronounced her new guardian, or Protector.

The relationship between Rachel and Logan is one of the main reason I enjoyed this novel so much . Despite their rocky past, they more or less make a pact to join forces in order to find Rachel's father. The tension and the love/hate relationship between the two characters is really what has you coming back for more. Before their mission even begins, they’re separated from each other as the communist commander of the city jails Logan for treason. I truly believe this separation of the two characters is a genius, since, as a reader, it kept me that much more interested in the story. And of course, it had me anticipate their reunion. Who doesn't love a good reunion?!?

Despite really liking the story, I found it lacked a bit of information, which could have made it an even better book. What exactly is this Cursed One? Where did it come from? Why couldn’t the army find a way to defeat it? Why have the women of the city become puppets when they were once free and independent? Despite these questions, DEFIANCE is near the top of my list of favorite YA books of 2012.

DEFIANCE is a griping tale that keeps you entertained until the very end. For all the dystopian fans out there, this is one book that you'll want to stack your shelves with since, besides being a great story, lets admit, it does have a pretty cover. C.J. Redwine will definitively enthrall you with her writing since her characters are so realistic and fresh.

 

    

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Posted by Unknown at 06:00

 Dragon, Dystopian, Review  1 Person left their mark