The Pleasure Slave by Gena Showalter

When I'm in the mood for a good paranormal romance (heavy on the romance) Gena Showalter is always at the top of my list. Her name is synonymous with the genre and I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've read from her long list of books. Honestly, I've been negligent and haven't read her most recent releases. The Pleasure Slave is an older release but I thought I would work my way through her books by starting with her earliest ones.

As a title, The Pleasure Slave does sound quite raunchy, but by recent standards, it's relatively tame. Tristan has been cursed into a life of servitude, captive of a jewelry box when not actively owned by anyone and a slave when a woman becomes the owner said jewelry box. Cursed for thousands of years to please any whim of his current owner, he thought he would remain a slave, for the rest of eternity. Until his new owner, Julia Anderson changed everything.

As an antique dealer, Julia was drawn to Tristan's jewelry box, but honestly, I don't think she was quite ready for the surprise she got. Julia has always considered herself plain and shy, never worthy of a strong and beautiful specimen such as Tristan. With Julia, Tristan discovers that not all owner are selfless. For the first time in thousands of years, his owner actually cares about his feelings and tries to not order him around. Because of the curse, he's obligated to follow any small order, whether it be sexual or not. With Julia, everything seems different. She's different. I really enjoyed reading the development between the two characters. How Julia slowly begins to trust Tristan as a man, after being hurt so long ago. How Tristan slowly begins to trust Julia with his heart, something he thought would never be possible.

The dialogue between Tristan and Julia is excellent and fun. Despite this being one of her first books, I can already see Gena distinctive writing style. Personally, I loved the Julia character but I can see how she could be a little up tight and reserved for some readers. The evolution she goes through during the book is fun to watch. Honestly, who wouldn't be able to come out of their shell with a hot teacher like Tristan?

There were just a few discrepancies in the paranormal aspects in the book. I wish the paranormal elements could have been a little more elaborate. Julia and Tristan are both mortals, and don' t possess any magic themselves, but their story is definitely dependent on magic. Tristan comes from the planet Imperia where mortals and Druinns (sorcerers/witches) try to coexist but don't always do, as is it evident when Tristan is cursed by his spurned Druinn lover. Honestly, I thought it was a little weird that he was from a different planet because usually that makes me think of spaceships, and not magic. Another thing that bothered me is the fact that Tristan has been a slave for thousands of years, but only a few years have passed on his planet, when he gets transported back and forth between Julia and his home planet. It's something the author could have elaborated on but for some reason, I didn't really care whether she did or not. I just wanted to read more about Tristan and Julia!

Overall, I was satisfied with Julia and Tristan's story. You're always guaranteed a happily ever after in paranormal romances and I honestly loved the way this book ended. There could be more to the series since a few things were left unresolved, but unfortunately, this is the last book of the series. It wasn't my favorite Gena Showalter book, but in general, it filled my need for a romantic love story.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:01

 Alien, Gena Showalter, Harlequin, Imperia, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, Review, Romance  1 Person left their mark

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

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.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 00:49

 Author, Broken Destiny, Demon, Harlequin, Jeaniene Frost, Review, Urban Fantasy  2 People left their mark

Shadow Study by Maria V Snyder

Yelena, once so scared of magic grew dependent on her powers, and she realizes it when they are suddenly gone. A weird attack rendered her powerless and feeling oddly vulnerable. How did she live all those years so defenseless before she discovered her powers? She must keep it a secret though because many of her enemies would jump on this opportunity to put an end to her life.

I have been waiting for years for another Yelena & Valek book and I was so happy when Maria announced she's working on a new series featuring them. As much as I loved this novel, and I'll tell you all about it later, I'm afraid the years between the releases ( 7 since the last Study book, 5 since the last Glass book) played hell on my memory and I grew frustrated about all the details I had forgotten. To avoid this situation, I would suggest you reread the books before you get to Shadow Study, if it's something that would bother you too.

Yelena gained quite the reputation as the Soulfinder and liaison between Ixia and Sitia. She is almost bigger than life if you listen to all the gossip, so for her to be suddenly powerless and away from Valek was quite the challenge. I loved that even though giving in to despair was tempting, she never gave up and fought back with everything she had. This girl just doesn't have it in her to hide and wait it out. The mystery surrounding her magic's disappearance is quite thick, and I'm afraid we'll have to wait for the next novel to really know what actually happened. Thankfully, Snyder pointed us the culprit, which make the tension bearable, but barely. I really want to know how that person did it!

My favorite aspect of this novel, and by far, are all the visits to Valek's past. What happened in his youth, how he became an assassin, his struggles, meeting with the commander and finally, killing the king. I was completely mesmerized by those bit of tales speckled all over the book and I was craving the next one again and again. I admired his focus, determination and resourcefulness. Really, Ari & Janco can only dream of being that good, I was thoroughly impressed.

Fans will be happy to know many old friends -and foes- are featured in this novel. A peculiar new character is also introduced, and she is bound to leave you scratching your head in wonder.

The plot is of course filled with intrigue, battles and twist & turns. I never would have guessed the extend of the different betrayals taking place in this book, and I can't wait to see all the consequences in the next novel, Night Study, expected in 2016.

If I had one complaint to formulate, can we please have Yelena and Valek together?? They were apart the whole time! *pouts*

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Posted by Tynga at 00:07

 Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, Harlequin, Magic, Maria V Snyder, Maria V. Snyder, Mira, Netgalley, Review, Soulfinders, Study  5 People left their mark

Cast in Flame by Michelle Sagara

I am so in love with the Chronicles of Elantra and CAST IN FLAME is an outstanding entry into the series. Ten books in, you'd think things might be getting a bit stale but Sagara shows just how much more there is to explore in Kaylin Neya's world with this novel. In short, this book is fresh, has depth, and generally sparkles!

CAST IN FLAME sees Kaylin back in Elantra after her two-book sojourn to the West March. She's happy to be back in Elantra but not at all happy to be still living in the Imperial Palace. Kaylin misses her apartment and so she sets out to find a new home, for herself and for Bellusdeo, the only female Dragon in the realm and Kaylin's roommate. It eventually takes her to a very interesting house with its own special history and abilities. Saying more about it would really spoil your reading, though, so you'll have to try CAST IN FLAME for yourself to see just what I'm talking about. :) For me, it was great to be back in a more familiar setting since Kaylin is in her element in Elentra and the fiefs. She spent so much time being unsure in the previous two novels that it was great to see her more at ease, even if things continue to change around her.

At the same time, there are also some further exploration of Teela's childhood companions. Mandoran and Annarion came back to Elantra and they're having a bit of trouble adjusting to the new ways of the world. Their difficulties make for great reading since they cause quite the fuss wherever they go. Plus, Annarion is Nightshade's brother, which makes for all sorts of complications, both in Nightshade and in Barrani society. These bits of CAST IN FLAME show us just how much is still unknown about these changed Barrani and I'm so curious to see what Sagara has in store for us in future books, with all of the group but particularly with Mandoran and Annarion, who really endeared themselves to me.

The final scene of CAST IN FLAME is something I've been waiting for for ages, and I'm sure you have been too if you're a fan of the series.

As always, Michelle Sagara delivers a perfect story in an amazing world. CAST IN FLAME demonstrates her talent as a writer and is a marvellous example of how a series can get better and better as you get further immersed in the world and the characters. If you haven't tried this series yet, I'd strongly encourage you to join in from the start, with CAST IN SHADOW. (You can check out my Daring You To Read... post for a bit of context.) Like all great fantasy series, it's tough to start in the middle but you'll devour the pages once you start with Book 1.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Chronicles of Elantra, Fantasy, Harlequin, Michelle Sagara, Review  2 People left their mark

The Aftermath by Jen Alexander

Prior to last year, I had never read any books about video-gaming and now, I feel like video-gaming and virtual reality are becoming trendy and more popular. I think this new rise in popularity of video-gaming novels can be attributed to Ready Player One and The Eye Of Minds, whatever the reason I love this new crop of novels. The Aftermath is an interesting blend of science fiction and romance that immerses the reader in a dystopian video-game settings. This is a novel that fans of MMOs and RPGS will love because it raises the question: What if your video-game character had a mind of it's own?

Claudia has visions of another life, one where she is someone else and where she isn't trapped in the Aftermath. When Claudia discovers that she's trapped in a video-game called The Aftermath, she is desperate to find a way out and enlists the help of Declan, a moderator of this game. If Claudia and Declan can avoid Flesh Eaters, they can possibly find an escape route and leave the only world that Claudia's ever known.

While The Aftermath is quite entertaining, I feel like the plot in this book is pretty spare. Sure, there are a few twists and turns, but this book relies on the relationship between Claudia and Declan to advance the plot. The problem is that I never really felt a connection to this couple at all and I felt like I had no reason to root for them. Claudia is "the special one", the only who can save the world because she is so unique and incredible and yet, I really never felt strongly about her character.  I didn't like nor hate Claudia because her character was pretty basic and the only thing I really liked about her was her sense of humor. I didn't empathize with Declan either and I hated how he intentionally concealed information from the reader and Claudia; why would Claudia trust someone who she knows is hiding info? I don't care if Declan might've been Claudia's way out because she was doing well enough on her journey prior to his arrival.

I loved how much of this book centered around zombies and video-gaming, two of my favorite things. These two elements meshed really well and helped give this book an unique atmosphere that I haven't seen in too many sci-fi novels. I do think the idea of video-gaming could have been incorporated in further aspects of the book, the introduction of levels or stages could've been a nice addition to The Aftermath. I loved reading about why The Aftermath was created and the reasoning behind this video-game felt frighteningly plausible.

The Aftermath is a pretty good novel with an interesting romance, but I wish I could've connected with the main character and enjoyed the romance more.  This book did capture my attention, despite my qualms with the romance and characters and I loved the cliffhanger that this book ended on. I definitely have an interest in the sequel and I hope that the next book will allow me to empathize with Claudia more and focus on the video-gaming aspect more.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Dystopian, Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Jen Alexander, Publisher, Review, Science Fiction, young adult  Leave your mark

The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett

Fairytale retellings are possibly the trickiest books for me as a reader because I am a total fairy-tale junkie and hate when my favorite stories are trifled with.  How does an author reinvent a story while maintaining its integrity? It's a difficult task to write a successful retelling, but The Stepsister's Tale is quite possibly one of the best retellings I've ever read. Tracy Barrett has taken everything I love about the Cinderella story and twisted it into an extremely compelling and surprising tale. This isn't the Cinderella you grew up with, this is a much grittier and bolder version of the classic tale.

Once upon a time, there was a not-so-wicked stepmother and her two daughters named Jane and Maude. Their family was once highly esteemed and wealthy, but a series of unfortunate events led to the family losing their fortune and their estate becoming decrepit. In an effort to regain their high standing in society, their stepmother remarries a noble and the noble moves in with his daughter named Ella. Soon everything turns into a mess when this noble dies and Jane and her family is left to take care of Ella.

In the original versions of Cinderella, readers only felt contempt towards Cinderella's step-mothers and step-sisters. In this tale, the stepsisters and mother are in a terrible situation and are falsely viewed as maligned and despicable. I loved how Barrett allowed readers to easily empathize with Jane and her sister by allowing readers to see their side of the story. Characters that were merely caricatures in the original are given expanded roles and are shown in an entirely new light.

I love how this version of the tale has a feminist spin on it and how there's messages of female empowerment throughout this novel. I really enjoyed seeing how the sisterly bond between Maude and Jane developed throughout the novel; a lot of books seem to skip over familial relationships, but I loved how integral family was to this novel. Though there is a romance in this novel, it never detracts from the special sisterly bond that Maude and Jane share and it doesn't distract the reader from the plot at all.

Barrett cleverly ties aspects of the original tale into this novel in such a subtle way that readers might not notice these intricate details upon initially reading this novel. Readers who think that they'll be able to predict the outcome in this novel couldn't be more wrong. Though the basic infrastructure of the Cinderella story is here, so many of the tale's basic plot elements are turned inside out. Nothing happens quite the way that readers will expect it to happen and they will applaud Barrett for updating a classic tale in such an intelligent manner.

The Stepsister's Tale is an extremely clever, refreshing update on the Cinderella tale that I absolutely loved. You'll never look at Cinderella or her Prince Charming in quite the same way, Barrett doesn't give readers quite the happily ever after that readers have come to expect. I truly hope that Barrett reinvents another one of my classic fairytales soon because I loved The Stepsister's Tale.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 fairytale retelling, Fantasy, Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Magic, Retelling, Tracy Barrett, young adult  2 People left their mark

"When I'm not writing" with Auralee Wallace + giveaway

Today we're welcoming debut author Auralee Wallace to the blog. Her book, SIDEKICK, has just come out from Escape Publishing (a Harlequin imprint) and Auralee is on a blog tour to celebrate this fantastic release. She's here today to tell us what she does when she's not working on a book, and she's providing a tour-wide giveaway to boot. Welcome, Auralee!

I am a soccer goddess. Not a soccer mom. A soccer goddess. Seriously, I dominate the playing field.



Granted that’s a 7, 5 and 2 year old I’m playing against, but, don’t let their size fool you. The oldest goes by the nickname Crazy Legs, the littlest one has been known to bite, and the middle, well, let’s just say she’ll do whatever it takes to win.

I am a brilliant armchair psychologist. An undergraduate degree in psychology will do that to you. I’m diagnosing people with stuff all the time. By far, though, I’ve diagnosed myself with the most afflictions. I am constantly amazed that I’m allowed to walk the streets unsupervised.

I am an overworked laundress. I have three children. It’s never done. To make matters worse, my middle child treats life like an episode of Downton Abbey and dresses for every activity of the day.



I am a sparkling conversationalist, especially on topics such as  the golden age of soap operas. Let’s talk Santa Barbara, Cruz and Eden, and that time she escaped that crazed Vietnam vet in the woods to drag herself back to Cruz on her damaged legs only to be snatched away at gunpoint the very moment Cruz sees her and realizes, My wife is alive! Ooh, I still get tingles.

I’m daydreaming about what life would be like as Doctor Who’s companion. I’m a little fangirl about the Doctor, so I don’t think I’ll expand on this on. I don’t want to embarrass myself.

Well, that’s me in a nutshell. Thank you for the opportunity to share my understated glory!

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Thanks so much for visiting us, Auralee! I'm right there with you about Doctor Who. :)

For more about Auralee and her books, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tour Schedule

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Here's the scoop on SIDEKICK:

Heroes meets Kick-Ass in this brilliant and hilarious debut about a girl who just wants to save the world...

Bremy St James, daughter of billionaire Atticus St James, has been cut off from the family fortune and is struggling to survive in a world that no longer holds its breath every time she buys a new outfit. To make matters worse, her twin sister is keeping secrets, loan sharks are circling, and the man of her dreams — a newspaper reporter — is on assignment to bring down everyone with the last name St James.

Things are certainly looking bleak for the down-and-out socialite until a good deed throws her into the path of the city’s top crime-fighter, Dark Ryder. Suddenly, Bremy has a new goal: apprentice to a superhero, and start her own crime-fighting career.

Ryder has no need for a sidekick, but it turns out the city needs Bremy’s help. Atticus St James is planning the crime of the century, and Bremy may be the only one able to get close enough to her father to stop him.

Now all she needs to do is figure out this superhero thing in less than a month, keep her identity secret from the man who could very well be The One, and save the city from total annihilation.

Well, no one ever said being a superhero would be easy...

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon

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Auralee is giving away five (5) e-copies of SIDEKICK on the tour. Follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favourite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit  us? Please email me at jenn (at) tyngasreviews (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:45

 Adult, Auralee Wallace, giveaway, Harlequin, When I'm not writing  8 People left their mark

Daughter of the Spellcaster by Maggie Shayne

Lena ran away after Ryan, her Prince, broke her heart. He has nothing of a prince in this life, but once upon a time, in another time and place, he was her Prince. Now she's pregnant, and when he learns 8 months later that he is the father he wants to help her raise their child, but can she really trust him?

Daughter of the Spellcaster, book two in The Portal series, was a fine read, but it wasn't extraordinary. The main flaw is its predictability. Honestly, there was no suspense whatsoever, I just knew everything that would happen right from the start, so it was kind of a let down. It wasn't a bad story, but the 'hints' were so obvious, Shayne left nothing to the imagination.

Lena and Ryan were two lovable characters and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. It was nice to witness their coming together once more and the doubts and insecurity they felt made their story that much more believable. I particularly liked how Ryan took to fatherhood so easily, investing himself in the room decoration and what not. It was just really sweet.

I often found myself wishing this novel was more in continuity with the first book, Mark of the Witch. Indira made an appearance, but it would've been nice for her to play a bigger role in the story, and I hope both 'sisters' will be more present in the third novel, Blood of the Sorceress.

Despite its misgiving, I enjoyed this novel and plan to read the next installment. It's a simple, no-brainer, romance and it feels good in read one such book from time to time :)

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Posted by Tynga at 01:50

 Adult, Harlequin, Maggie Shayne, Magic, Mira, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, The Oracle, Witch  Leave your mark

The Forever Song blog tour

• What are your top three book endings (stand-alone or series)?

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene. Not many books can make me cry. The end of this one did. In an airport. Full of people.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. I grew up with Harry, and when his story came to a close, I felt a part of my own life had finished.

1. The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien. Okay, honestly, I read this a long time ago
and can barely remember much of the story, but I do remember the very last line, and how it was just the perfect end. When Sam comes home to his family after seeing Frodo off, and says: "Well, I'm back."

• The End: The trickiest/most fun/most rewarding aspects of bringing a series to a close?

The trickiest thing about finishing a series is giving the characters an ending that makes sense, while also satisfying the fans. You know that you can't please everyone, and not everyone is going to like where you went with the story, but the ending should make sense for the characters and the world. I hope that readers close the last book with feelings of both sadness and contentment. Sadness in knowing that the story has come to a close, but knowing that it couldn't have happened any other way.

• What do you like to do when you’re not writing ?

When I'm not writing I can either be found at my art desk making clay figurines, or playing games in front of the Xbox One or PS4. I also take Wing Tsun kung fu and kali (better known as Hit People with Sticks class) several days a week. And I'm on twitter a lot, chatting or just wasting time, so I'm very rarely bored.

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About the book:

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

 

MONSTER. 

 

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the path is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal.

 

The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost— the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

My Review

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Each tour stop is offering up the winner’s choice of either THE IMMORTAL RULES, THE ETERNITY CURE or THE FOREVER SONG - whichever book of the series you might be missing!

 

There are also 2 grand prizes:

• 1 winner will get a complete set of Julie Kagawa’s books, including The Iron Fey Saga and The Blood of Eden Saga!

• 1 winner will get a $100 gift card from either iTunes, Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open to US/Canada and ends May 2nd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Julie Kagawa

• website |  blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish and the odd eel.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all-time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive Papillon puppy.

Tour Schedule:
Monday, April 7th - Harlequin Paranormal Romance Blog

Tuesday, April 8th - fiktshun

Wednesday, April 9th - The PageTurners

Thursday, April 10st - Booksand Things

Friday, April 11th - Ticket ToAnywhere

Monday, April 14th - TwoChicks on Books

Tuesday, April 15th - Parajunkee

Wednesday, April 16th - Refracted Light Reviews

Thursday, April 17st - Bewitched Bookworms

Friday, April 18th - Mundie Moms

Monday, April 21th - A Book Obsession

Tuesday, April 22nd - The Book Cellar

Wednesday, April 23th - Supernatural Snark

Thursday, April 24st - The Busy Bibliophile

Friday, April 25th - Tyngas Reviews

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 Guest Post, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa  40 People left their mark

Giveaway: The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst

Sarah Beth Durst has a new release and she has graciously offered up a signed copy as a giveaway to one lucky reader. Here's the scoop on THE LOST, her first book for adults. It sounds like a great read. See for yourselves:

Lost your way?

Your dreams?

Yourself?

Welcome to Lost.

It was supposed to be a small escape. A few hours driving before turning around and heading home. But once you arrive in Lost... well, it's a place you really can't leave. Not until you're Found. Only the Missing Man can send you home. And he took one look at Lauren Chase and disappeared.

So Lauren is now trapped in the town where all lost things go -- luggage, keys, dreams, lives -- where nothing is permanent, where the locals go feral and where the only people who don't want to kill her are a handsome wild man called the Finder and a knife-wielding six-year-old girl. The only road out of town is engulfed by an impassable dust storm, and escape is impossible....

Until Lauren decides nothing -- and no one -- is going to keep her here anymore.

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Sarah is giving away one (1) signed copy of THE LOST to a lucky reader.

Canada/US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 giveaway, Harlequin, Sarah Beth Durst  25 People left their mark

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

After Zeke's death to the hands of Sarren the psychopath, Allie is ready to give in to her own monster. She is ready to give up on humanity, only continuing on  driven by a desire for revenge. Sarren wants to destroy the cure to rabidism the humans discovered and unleash his own virus and wipe the world clean. Grief stricken as she is, Allie don't give a damn about his plan, she only wants to kill him, but along her journey with Kanin and Jackal she will manage to put her hatred aside and embrace her humanity once more.

Poor Allie can't seem to have a break even though, god knows, she deserves one. Loosing the one person she ever loved is seriously threatening her sanity and her befriending Jackal is a proof in itself. Especially after all he has done in the previous installment. Despite that, I think he was my favorite character in this novel. Don't get me wrong, I still love Allie and Zeke, but they were so serious and depressed all the time, Jackal's presence was like a highly entertaining - if deadly- breath of fresh air. His infuriating (to his traveling buddies) comments and barbs were keeping a smile on my face despite the dire circumstances our heroes face.

Julie Kagawa really has a talent to keep her readers on their toes and this novel is no exception. The plot line is once again a linear journey, from New Conviction to Eden but every step of the way is surprising and challenging. It was nice to see the vampire gang walk the steps Allie walked with Zeke and his family back in book one and see how everything changed in less than a year. The stakes are different, friends and foes changed and the objective is even more important.

I know it's gonna sound weird but I loved how disgustingly smart Sarren was. Too bad he is an evil bastard. His plans to destroy  humanity were simply genius and I was seriously wondering how our heroes would beat him. And when they think they are close to success, well they aren't because His Evilness already planned ahead or just won't die! Allie and Kanin had to play smart to defeat him and not everyone survives the final battle to save humanity.

I was really pleased with the conclusion of this installment and of the series as a whole. The end isn't an happily ever after, but it brought a wind of hope that humanity might just survive rabidism and it left me satisfied. Too often author leave a series conclusion too open for my taste, but Kagawa took the right decision when she wrote her conclusion, I think.

Paranormal and dystopian lovers must read this awesome trilogy. It's highly original, engrossing, exciting, with just the right amount of dark humor. I'm sad the series came to an end because I grew fond of its characters, but I feel like each character fulfilled their own destiny.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Blood of Eden, Dystopian, Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Harlerquin, Julie Kagawa, Netgalley, Paranormal, Review, Vampire, young adult  3 People left their mark

Immortal Hunter by Kait Ballenger

As you may remember, I thought there were some good elements to TWILIGHT HUNTER, the first book in the series, but I also took issue with other aspects of the novel. My feelings about IMMORTAL HUNTER are much the same.

One of IMMORTAL HUNTER's strengths is the cast of characters and their relationships. You have your traditional selection of supernaturals -- werewolves, vampires, demons, etc. -- and there's not a lot of deviation from what we see in much of the genre in terms of abilities. What really makes the series interesting is the Execution Underground team. Ballenger has put together quite the Scooby gang of supernatural police, each of whom will presumably get their own story. I really enjoy the team dynamics because a lot of the relationships are quite complicated. In the first book, we met Jace and Frankie (who do appear in IMMORTAL HUNTER as secondary characters) but now we're firmly focused on David and  Allsún, two characters I was quite interested in the first time around. They're both unique in the supernatural world: David is an exorcist feared by demons and Allsún is the only (part-)Fae who remains in our world. Together, they are essentially demon kryptonite but they've been apart for years, after a passionate romance when they were younger. David and Allsún never stopped loving each other but they both have regrets. These regrets and their time apart create the expected barrier the couple needs to overcome and add a nice amount of tension in the novel. 

I also enjoyed exploring the Fae aspects of the series. We spent most of the first book dealing with werewolf-related issues but now we get to learn more about the demons and the Fae, who are essentially sworn enemies. But all of the Fae except Allsún have retreated from the world. When Allsún is forced out of hiding, the demons are determined to kill her -- just as determined as David is to protect her. It's a shame that Allsún is the only Fae in the world (at least the only one that we know about) because there are so many interesting elements in this part of the series mythology.

My beef with IMMORTAL HUNTER is a small one: I think Ballenger is a strong writer but I wish there was more creativity in the series, in terms of how the supernatural species/races are realized. It's a very small beef and probably unfair since I know I couldn't do better but I think I would love this series if there were more unexpected elements. Generally, I like the Execution Underground series. It's filled with adventure and romantic tension. It's not the most original series -- there's not a lot of genre bending -- but the books are well-written romps with feisty characters. For me, this is an instance in which the series is much greater than its individual parts.

If you want spunky paranormal romance loaded with heavy history between the two main characters, IMMORTAL HUNTER might be the book for you. I'm sure you'll enjoy Ballenger's voice and I hope you'll find the story engaging as well. The Execution Underground series isn't on my Must list but I do enjoy visiting the world and characters.

Read an excerpt

 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, demons, Execution Underground, Harlequin, Kait Ballenger, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review  1 Person left their mark

Reaper's Touch by Eleri Stone + giveaway

REAPER'S TOUCH is something of a cowboys vs. zombies novel, wrapped in a paranormal romance. Eleri Stone has created a really interesting world that reminds me a lot of the setting of Firefly and Serenity, Joss Whedon's criminally cancelled TV show-turned-movie. The show was an amazing dystopian space western; the Reaper world is very similar, except it's not set in space. It's set in a very different America, in which the frontier is plagued by Reapers, people who have become infected with a parasite that turns them into cannibalistic, brutal killers who roam the fringes of the civilized world, raiding, raping, infecting, and killing. (They're quite similar to the Reavers from Firefly and Serenity).

Generally, the characters are well developed. As one of the few people with a natural immunity, Abby had no choice but to become a Ranger, part of the band that try to keep the Reapers away from the settlers. Understandably, she has quite a chip on her shoulders: she's expected to breed since every child she would have would be immune and would be drafted into the Rangers. There are some who would prefer she be sequestered away but Abby wants to be on the front lines, finding it a better alternative even though she lacks the killer instinct. She's an easy character to like and understand. Jake, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. As a sentient Reaper almost 200 years old, he has a lot of baggage in addition to the murderous parasite that lives inside him. He's very Jekyll and Hyde in a lot of ways but he fights the parasite every step of the way because he's so invested in the search for a cure. He's subjected himself to merciless scientists as part of this quest and is willing to do anything that might help.

Watching them fall for each other is a slow but fairly natural progression. Their mutual attraction is dampened by their distrust for each other at certain points but you can see the feelings between them grow as REAPER'S TOUCH progresses. Despite that, for me, the love story was less interesting than the setting, though it is well written. I was much more engaged by the world, with its glaring class distinctions, rugged setting, and dangers at every turn. I really enjoyed the historical western setting, especially since it's been combined with some neat science.

REAPER'S TOUCH is well worth your time if you like post-apocalyptic romance, especially if you're willing to take a chance on something historical. The worldbuilding in this story is wonderful and REAPER'S TOUCH is the beginning of what will hopefully be a standout paranormal romance series. Give the excerpt a try to see if it's to your tastes.

Read an excerpt

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I'm reviewing this book as part of a promotional tour from Book Monster Promotions so we also have a tour-wide giveaway for you today. The grand prize winner will receive one $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble and two runners up will each receive a $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Check the Rafflecopter for full details. 

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Book Tour, Carina Press, Dystopian, Eleri Stone, giveaway, Harlequin, Paranormal Romance, Reaper, Review  1 Person left their mark

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

I've heard so much about The Girl In The Steel Corset and for the most part, my friends had pretty mixed reactions to this book. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book and I expected to abandon it early on. Don't expect The Girl In The Steel Corset to be extremely serious, this is an extremely light-hearted, fun novel. This book was just what I needed to read and I am very excited to continue this series!

Finley Jayne has a dark "Mr. Hyde"-esque side to her and she is a danger to all those around her. When Griffin King hears about Finley Jayne, he figures out that she is special and he urges her to join his little rag-tag band of friends. Griffin and his friends are investigating a series of crimes committed by a mastermind called "The Machinist" and he needs Finley's help if he wants to stop The Machinist.

Finley Jayne isn't your average YA protagonist, she's far more tortured and conflicted than most main characters. She literally has dark side to her that makes her do horrible things and yet readers won't ever hold that against her. Instead readers will fall in love with the compassionate, bad-ass and strong-willed Finley who's not afraid to fight for her friends. I absolutely loved Finley and all of the other magnetic characters.

The romance in The Girl In The Steel Corset is simple and sweet. There's so much chemistry between Finley and Griffin, but I just hope that their romance doesn't overshadow their friendship. There's definitely a love triangle in this book, but surprisingly I was fine with it. I am definitely intrigued by Jack Dandy's relationship with Finley and I'm curious to see where Cross takes their relationship next. Dandy may be a criminal, but there's something so alluring about him. I really want to know more about Dandy and how he became the despicable man he is today.

I haven't read too many steampunk novels, but The Girl In The Steel Corset is one of the superior steampunk novels that I've read. I loved all of the zany and quirky inventions that fill this book and I loved reading about the uses of each of these wonderful creations. Though these inventions aren't always so relevant to the plot, they were extremely engaging to read about and the science nerd in me really appreciated all of the countless inventions.

One of my few complaints regarding The Girl In The Steel Corset is the plot and it's lack of momentum. I really enjoyed The Girl In The Steel Corset, but I feel as if there was so much character development and setting of the scene that the plot got neglected. Very few substantial plot events occur throughout the novel and even though, this book is extremely enjoyable I felt as if barely anything was accomplished. I really hoped that the next book is more action-packed and is more eventful.

The Girl In The Steel Corset is a bit ridiculous at times, but I had so much fun reading this novel. I'm extremely excited to read the following book in this series and I hope that the next book explores more of Jack Dandy's past. This book helped me get out of my reading slump and I would definitely recommend this book! Kady Cross is definitely a promising author and I have a feeling that her Steampunk Chronicles is going to become one of my favorite series.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Kady Cross, Paranormal Romance, Review, Romance, steampunk, Steampunk romance, The Steampunk Chronicles, young adult  3 People left their mark

Fighting Kat by PJ Schynder

I haven't read the first book in this series but that didn't stop me from jumping into FIGHTING KAT, PJ Schnyder's latest release. I've really enjoyed her London Undead novellas (BITE ME and SING FOR THE DEAD) so I couldn't resist seeing what she could do with sci fi. And I don't think I missed much by skipping HUNTING KAT because Schnyder does a wonderful job of giving you the necessary context to jump into FIGHTING KAT without any major issues.

Kat is a human who's been changed on a genetic level by a virus forced on her by her captors. Surviving the infection, Kat's now able to transform into a panther and has enhanced strength and healing. She's an intergalactic mercenary and medical officer on a fancy spaceship, learning how to deal with her dual nature. Kat met and fell for Ryland in the previous novel and they're doing the long-distance thing while they figure out their relationship.

FIGHTING KAT does, as the title suggests, have a great deal of action. Schynder does a great job of writing interesting fight choreographies and scenarios and I was hooked by each new engagement. She has also created a very interesting world for her characters to fight in. I love the idea that there are all sorts of different aliens out there, with different motivations. Some of the beings Kat encounters in FIGHTING KAT are really weird and different, which is something I always enjoy in a story. Many of the most interesting reveals and moments come in the last third of the novel, when things really build to an exciting climax.

On the romantic side, I quite enjoyed Kat and Ryland's relationship. Their bond was formed under adverse circumstances and they have a lot of obstacles to overcome but you can't deny their chemisty. It would blow the top off of a thermometer! Their encounters are steeped in steamy emotion and their connection is palpable.

One of my favourite aspects of Schnyder's writing is that gives all of her characters a lot of history and depth.  Anyone with a good number of pages gets a backstory that has me intrigued. I'm particularly curious about Kat's captain, Dev. The hints we get are such teases and I desperately want to know more about it. But it's Kat's background that has me really curious, so I'm going to be purchasing HUNTING KAT the next time I'm in the e-bookstore.

If you're in the mood for an exciting sci fi novel with passionate characters and a twisting plot, look no further than FIGHTING KAT. Schnyder has created a great story that will have you hooked from the first paragraph.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:00

 Adult, Book Tour, Carina Press, Harlequin, PJ Schnyder, Review, Science Fiction, The Triton Experiment  1 Person left their mark

Fighting Kat blog tour: Guest post by PJ Schnyder + giveaway

Today we have a guest post from PJ Schnyder. I recently reviewed SING FOR THE DEAD as part of Novella November and now we have PJ here to talk about the inspiration for one of the characters in FIGHTING KAT as part of her tour for the novel, which happens to the second book in her Triton series. This is a full-length novel unlike the first instalment, which was a novella, and it's a real treat, as you can tell from my review.

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Character Inspiration: Kx9-8775 “Max”

Meet the inspiration for Max.

Kaiser von Romhaus came to me on Christmas Eve. He’d spent the first 2 years of his life trained to be a guard dog with full Schutzhund training, attack training, and the sort of high level skills taught to police and military dogs. The only human interaction he had was with his handlers and the humans he chased off the property he’d been sent to guard. When his owners divorced, they abandoned him and the other guard dogs in shelters - to be labeled unadoptable…

Kaiser’s breeder found out and pulled him out of the shelter before the awful happened.

I’d been researching German Shepherd Dog puppies and in contact with the breeder. Rather than meet puppies, the breeder asked me to come meet Kaiser. After introducing us, the breeder only said, “Merry Christmas” and sent us home together. I spent the next 6 months adjusting Kaiser to a suburban home and teaching him to respond to English as opposed to German.

Every pet is a family member. Kaiser became my heart, my comfort, and my courage. After my divorce, coming home to him made me feel safe. Our time together was too short and I’ll never forget him.

Unconditional love. Unwavering loyalty.

I wanted to introduce a character into the Triton Experiment series who embodied those qualities. A dog can do this in a way a humanoid can’t. Kaitlyn might be irritated with having a canine on board for a while, but sometimes hearts are healed by the least expected.

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For more PJ, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog Tour Schedule

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Here's the scoop on FIGHTING KAT:

Book two of The Triton Experiment

Intergalactic mercenary Kat Darah has been ordered to keep her shape-shifting ability a secret from everyone but those closest to her, for her own safety. She’s learned how to control the feral rage…for the most part. But when Lieutenant Rygard’s military unit goes missing, she’ll use every skill she has to find her man.

Lt. Christopher Rygard has witnessed his girl shift, and he still wants her. After Kat rescues him from alien clutches, he’d like nothing more than to wrap her in his arms again, but his first duty is to his men. And half of them have been shipped off-planet to be sold as slaves.

Kat and Rygard will need to form a new team to go deep undercover, posing as gladiators and learning to fight together in order to survive. In the arena, it’s all about who is the strongest predator…

See how it all began in Hunting Kat.

Jenn's thoughts

Purchase: Amazon

PJ Schnyder and Buy the Book Tours are giving away a FIGHTING KAT themed mug, black panther beanie baby, PJ pen and spiral bound HUNTING KAT notebook.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:00

 giveaway, Guest Post, Harlequin, PJ Schnyder  1 Person left their mark

Words Once Spoken by Carly Drake

Evelyn has stood out her whole life. She has an obsession with the outdoors, refuses to eat cooked food (raw greens for her!) and sleep on a pallet made of grass and plants. To her mother's dismay, none of her quirks are worthy of a lady and now that she's about to turn eighteen, she must be presented to court. Evie dreaded this reunion, but she had no idea it would be a life changing experience.

I was enchanted by the cover when I first saw it on Netgalley. I am a big high fantasy fan, and who doesn't like a powerful heroine mastering the bow? I had not realize though that this novel is only 134 pages long when I requested it, and despite having a lot of potential, I think being so short is the main reason this novel didn't meet my expectations.

As far as I know, Carly Drake is a debut author, and I liked her writing, but I think her plotting skills needs some polishing. My main issue is that we dive head first in this world, with no back story or explanations whatsoever until half the novel. I understand the author's desire for mystery, but many of the characters' actions made no sense because of this vagueness. The plots structure also lacked meat around the bones. Because her manuscript is so short, the author went very straight to the point all the time, neglecting those elements important to an enjoyable read.

The characterization had potential, but again, the heroes lacked the liveliness necessary to make them likeable. Evie was exciting and determined, but her interactions with Lord Devon and Prince Liam were simply unbelievable. The love triangle seemed present just to fill this 'love triangle in YA books trend' and was just out of the blue, with no true feelings or passion. She meets both boys on the night of her arrival at the ball, and all of a sudden, they are all over her and she can't keep her minds off of them. I understand the 'love at first sight' often portrayed in novels, but the lack of romance just didn't cut it.

My favorite aspect of the novel was the lore (when it was FINALLY introduced!). [spoiler] The Lore is about Faery royalty and how a past Queen cursed her son and knights for hurting humans. They were respectively turned into vampire and werewolves (thus creating those two races) and were forbidden to enter Tir Na Nog unless invited by a noble Fey. [/spoiler] I thought it was extremely original and I wish it was hinted to sooner (if not outright revealed) and developed a bit more.

The conclusion was action packed and somewhat shocking. I'm under the impression that this novel is the first of a series (even though it's not listed as such on Goodreads) and I'm afraid I won't continue reading it. I am opened to giving Carly another chance though, if she releases a full blown novel that will hopefully help contain the flaws hindering my reading experience this time around.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:16

 Carly Drake, Fey/Faeries, Harlequin, High Fantasy, Magic, Netgalley, Review, young adult  6 People left their mark

Grim Edited by Christine Johnson

I usually don't enjoy anthologies because they almost always consist of a few notable short stories and the rest are filler. There are just so many entertaining stories in Grim, thanks to the large ensemble of talented authors that contributed to this anthology. The 17 co-authors of Grim should be applauded for compiling such superb short stories and for retelling fairy-tales in unique, unconventional ways. As much I would love to discuss each short story, I have decided to review the most memorable short stories:

• The Key by Rachel Hawkins is the first story in the Grim anthology and it sets a wonderfully creepy atmosphere for this anthology. I loved Hawkins's trademark humor and it was a delight to read a short story by one of my favorite authors. I really wished this story was a bit longer because it was so good and by the end, I was practically begging for more!


• Figment by Jeri-Smith Ready - I wasn't sure what to expect from Ready because I've never read anything by her before. After reading Figment, I've added Shades to my "to-read" list because I really want to check out more of Jeri Smith-Ready's books. Figment was unexpectedly haunting and creepy with an unexpected twist at the end that I didn't see coming at all!


• The Twelfth Girl by Malinda Lo - I loved the way Lo executed this story and it was absolutely thrilling! The LBQT romance angle was a nice touch to an incredible short story, I truly can't believe that I haven't read any of Lo's novels yet.


• The Raven Princess by Jon Skovron - There's nothing I love more than a fairy-tale that has a classic feel to it. The Raven Princess is based off of a Grimm fairy tale called The Raven and it captures all of the delightfully strange spirit of a Grimm fairytale. I believe that this was one of the more lengthy short stories, but I really devoured The Raven Princess hastily.


• Beast / Beast by Tessa Gratton - At first, Tessa Gratton's Beast / Beast appeared to be just another regurgitation of the classic love story, but the more I read, it became obvious that I was completely mistaken.  For starters, Tessa Gratton has an absolutely lovely writing style that is both lyrical and simply beautiful. I was completely caught off guard and intrigued by the shocking plot twist towards the ending, not to mention the fact that I quickly start to root for this unlikely couple.


• Light It Up by Kimberly Derting - Imagine a modern interpretation of Hansel and Gretel where Greta is a teenager who is obsessed with smoking... I loved the way Derting recreated such an iconic story for a modern audience, without losing any of the terror and tension associated with the tale. This story was wonderful and my only qualm is that there wasn't any Gingerbread / Candy House.


• A Real Boy by Claudia Gray - This story was wonderfully bizarre and it involved a human-robot romance, which I surprisingly was a huge fan of. Even though, A Real Boy was sci-fi, it still filed me with child-like wonder that I normally associate with fairytales.


• Beauty And The Chad by Sarah Rees Brennan - Initially when I started this short story, I was a bit annoyed with the fact that there was another B+B retelling in this anthology because there are just so many fairy tales out there that deserve to be retold. I loved the GLBT romance angle of this story and it was an extremely interesting technique. Brennan's dialogue is extremely witty and this is one of the most intelligent retellings I've ever read. Period.

Grim is a beautiful, gothic anthology filled with so many lovely fairy tale retellings! I can't wait to get Grim in hardcover and it's a perfect addition to any fairy-tale lover's bookshelf! 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Anthology, Christine Johnson, fairy tale, Fantasy, Gothic, Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Publisher, Retelling, Review, Science-Fiction, young adult  2 People left their mark

When I'm Not Writing with... Maria V Snyder (Taste of Darkness Tour)

I'm super happy to have Maria V Snyder on the blog today to celebrate the release of Taste of Darkness, the last book in the Healers series! Please welcome her warmly :)

When I’m not writing, I’m Mom.  I do all the typical Mom things - drive my daughter to flute lessons, attend soccer games, go to concerts, etc… I cook meals during the week (we eat out on weekends), do laundry, go to the grocery store, clean house.  All those boring chores.  I’m not a clean freak, but I do like the clutter put away (it gives the appearance of being clean).  When I’m not Mom, I’m playing volleyball.  I’m a setter for a church co-ed team and I set the ball since I’m not tall enough to spike it over a men’s net!  I also play pick up games once a week.  Nice thing about volleyball my son, husband, and daughter all play as well.

When I’m not playing volleyball, I’m skiing.  I love to ski and will go as much as I can from January to March.  When I’m not skiing, I’m traveling.  I love to travel and will use any excuse to go on a trip.  Since I can write anywhere, I frequently tag along with my husband when he’s traveling for business.  I’ve been to most of the European countries and Scandinavia, Russia, Dubai, Malaysia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and a bunch of other places.  Traveling feeds my imagination for my writing.  When I’m not traveling, I’m taking pictures.  I enjoy photography and try to have a camera with me at all times.  My favorite light is at dusk and I take a million sunset pictures.  I also like zooming in really close (like pores the size of dinner plates close ;).  My pictures have won some ribbons and been used to accompany my magazine articles (which makes me a photojournalist!  Wow – I didn’t realize that until now!).

When I’m not taking pictures, I’m handling the business part of writing like answering emails, posting on Facebook, writing blogs, and scheduling book events.  I also consider research for my stories in this category as I’ll take classes to get hands on experience or spend the time reading through books or interviewing a person of interest. When I’m not doing the biz, I’m working with my students at Seton Hill University.  I mentor students in the MFA program at Seton Hill (not Seton Hall ;).  Every month, they send me pages of their thesis novels, and I read and critique them. I also teach during the five day residency we have twice a year.  It’s a wonderful program and I love helping new writers.

When I’m not mentoring/teaching, I’m sleeping.  Gotta get my 7 hours or I’m very grumpy.  When I’m not sleeping, I’m writing.

More about Taste of Darkness:

She's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.

But there's a more immediate threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry's healing powers are needed now more than ever.Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

My review

Lucky for you, there's a tour wide giveaway! Don't miss your chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep following the tour to learn more! Complete schedule can be found here.

About Maria:

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria always had a fascination with big storms. Dreaming of chasing tornados, Maria earned a bachelors of science degree in meteorology at Penn State University. But she discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. In order to chase tornados you had to predict where they might form. Creating fantasy worlds where she has complete control of the weather was more agreeable to her.

Maria lives with her husband, son, daughter and yellow lab, Hazelnut, in Pennsylvania where she is at work on more LUNA novels. She is also pursuing a master's degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University.

Where to find her: Website/Blog/Facebook/Goodreads

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Posted by Tynga at 00:42

 giveaway, Guest Post, Harlequin, Maria V Snyder, When I'm not writing  17 People left their mark

Taste of Darkness by Maria V Snyder

The war is still running full force and it seems like nothing will stop any of the leaders but death. Ryne is still running his operation, trying to give the kingdom back to its people, despite his questionable methods. Cellina, Sepp and Wynn are running havoc with Tohon's army now that he is in stasis, but where does their alliance lay? The Skeleton King, a cannibal more viscous even than Tohon can't be neglected either. Who will win the war? Who will survive and who will perish? That's what Taste of Darkness will reveal!

This third, and last, installment in the Healers series was just as amazing as the previous books and I have no choice but to bow down in front of Maria V Snyder's plotting skills. The complexity of all the simultaneous events happening in different places,  combined with the delay in which news reach each different party was very impressive and intricate. It's a wonder people got anything done back then when you have to count multiple days for a messenger to reach its target, a far cry from our instant text messaging. The slowness at which information traveled contributed to the unbearable suspense of the plot and the insecurity of each character's well-being.

I loved how the plot revolved not only around the war itself, but also its side plots. Their are multiple small missions along the way, such has trying to save Estrid to gain the help of her army, saving Mom's daughter from the monastery, rescuing Poppa Bear, Flea's quest to harness his new powers and finding a cure to the new plague, to name only these. I was engrossed in every details, working hard to keep up with all the subtleties, but I have to confess, Snyder lost me with her cure of the plague. Being a scientist I know how simply impossible her cure is. I don't want to go into details, but unless Avry has a certain blood type, her 'cure' would kill half (or more) of her patients.

As usual, I enjoyed the complex relationship between each characters, may they be friends, foe, or somewhere in between. Aside from the close-knit gang we love, interactions with others are often in shades of grey, enriching the story. Of course, I tremendously enjoyed rekindling with our beloved merry gang and was happy to see them evolute all together once more (after many struggles!).

Even though I am mostly satisfied with the conclusion, I thought that it felt rushed compared to the slow pace we grew used to. The characters had to play smart and make big sacrifices to succeed and not everybody survives the final battle. It is also a good way to end the series, but I really wished Snyder had grant us a peek into the after-war future. I would've loved to see the characters prosper after living so many difficult years.

The Healers series is definitely a must read for high fantasy lovers out there. Snyder is a stellar author and her writing won't disappoint you!

Read an Excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 00:15

 Harlequin, Healer, High Fantasy, Magic, Maria V Snyder, Maria V. Snyder, Mira, Netgalley, Review  4 People left their mark