The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

THE SCORPION RULES might seem like your generic Young Adult dystopian novel but I was pleasantly surprise. It is original and very well written. The world building is exceptional and while it might be a little far fetched, it's based on a real world problem that could, in theory, happen. Global warming is a reality in this book, and the world is drying up. Drinking water is becoming rarer. Four hundred years in the past, people started wars over water, and so, an artificial intelligence being took it upon himself to end all wars by blowing up cities around the world in order to control the world populations. The AI knew blowing up cities wouldn't work in the long term, so he decided to take world leaders' children hostage to help them keep the peace. And so began Talis's rule.

As a Child of Peace, Greta has been prepared to die for her country. If she can survive past her her 18th birthday, she'll be free, but until then she's a hostage for the Pan Polar Confederacy, what used to be Canada. As the Crown Princess of the Confederacy and the Duchess of Halifax, she doesn't get special treatment. Like all the other Children of Peace, she has been raised humbly on how to survive off the land. Since she was five, she has lived in one of the many Preceptor schools with other world leaders' children. What happens the weeks following the arrival of a new hostage, Elián, will forever change Greta's life. Greta's attracted to this new boy. As a 16 year old teenager, she is confused over the feelings she has for him. He's trouble, alway saying and doing the wrong things, which he gets punished for time and time again. I think she's simply awed by someone who is willing to break the rules despite the obvious repercussions. However, he's definitely trouble because Elián represents the possibility of death. Their two countries are on the brink of war, and if war is declared, they're both dead.

The slow world building is necessary to understand the chilling situation these characters are in. And while it was necessary to understand their daily lives, I kind of didn't want to know about goat breeding. But again, it was necessary to understand that these children are taught how to live off the land, and the goats are kind of important in the long run. I would have appreciated a little bit more background information about many of the characters. Greta spends her days with her cohort but not much is known about these characters beyond the fact that their parents are world leaders.

I applaud the author's audacity to include LGBTQ relationships in this YA novel. I feel like it kind of came out of nowhere, especially since I thought the attraction between Greta and Elián was obvious. I thought the author might expand this relationship, seeing how their two countries are enemies. However, Greta develops (or realizes she has) strong romantic feelings for her female roommate. I totally didn't see that coming, and I think Greta didn't either. Still, I applaud the author for trying for a different kind of romantic triangle.

Although I don't like Greta's final decision towards the end of the book, I understand why she did it. The whole concept of artificial intelligence and copying one's thoughts and psyche in order achieve a sort of immortality isn't something new, but the way it's described in this book is quite original.

THE SCORPION RULES was a thought provoking, science and technology based book that I highly recommend. It might not be as action packed as other dystopian books on the market, but this book should not be overlooked. Just because the female protagonist isn't taught self-defence doesn't mean she can't be a strong leader. Greta, while a bit naive, is a clever and respected girl who might have what it takes to help control world peace. I really enjoyed reading her story and can't wait to find out what happens next.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 artificial intelligence, Canadian, Dystopian, Erin Bow, Margaret K. McElderry, Prisoners of Peace, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, young adult  2 People left their mark

Spider's Trap Blog Tour: Review + giveaway

A quick warning: Spoilers for previous novels abound in this review! If you're not caught up, you might want to skip down to the giveaway. :)

Gin's in a very different position in SPIDER'S TRAP: she's spent much of the series hunting Monroes and dodging assassins and now she's the queen of Ashland's underworld. "Reluctant" doesn't even begin to describe how she feels about it but her feelings become moot when someone plants a bomb on her friend Phillip's boat while she's on board for a meeting. The would-be assassin's magic is unlike anything Gin has ever faced, and she can help but think it's related to her past, though she can't quite put her finger on it. Nonetheless, Gin being Gin, she goes into full seek-and-destroy mode, to ensure the safety of her loved ones.

The books in the Elemental Assassin have a definite structure to them: Gin meets threat, Gin spends novel trying to defeat threat (usually with at least one attempt that goes awry - at great cost to her person), Gin survives (again, often at great cost to her person). Within this structure, there's usually a lot of nice personal and thoughtful moments, particularly in the past couple novels, where Gin has struggled with being "out" as The Spider and how that affects the people she cares about. In SPIDER'S TRAP, Gin's reflections go in a different direction, taking us back to her early days with Fletcher, which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed this novel. Every few books, we get to dip our toes into Gin's early days -- you can't quite call it an idyllic childhood, can you? -- and these are my favourite stories because we see how Gin became the woman she is. And we get to learn about Fletcher, who I'm very attached to despite the fact that he's been dead for pretty much the entire series. Gin's formative years and her time with Fletcher are always fascinating and SPIDER'S TRAP is no exception. Estep has given us another peek at Gin's younger self, and of Fletcher in his prime, and I loved it. (As an aside, I would happily read a prequel series just about Fletcher with or without teenaged Gin and Flynn.) Without going too far into spoiler territory, I think I can safely say that it was quite fun to have Gin be something of a secondary player in some of the reminiscences. I'm afraid to be less cryptic, so you'll just have to read through the novel to really get what I mean by that!

I have such big love for SPIDER'S TRAP that I could go on and on but I'm very concerned that I'll inadvertently ruin some of the surprises so I think I'll have to sign off now. ;) I'll close by saying that, as ever, Estep has written a fast-paced, action-filled novel that also manages to deliver great character development and pithy dialogue. It's no mean feat to keep a series interesting once it's hit double digits but she's done a fine job. I'm always eager to read the next Elemental Assassin book and SPIDER'S TRAP has truly delivered. It's exciting, satisfying, and will have you hooked from the opening scene. I dare you to read the excerpt linked below and not run to the bookstore to get your own copy!

Read an excerpt

There is a tour-wide giveaway with different prizes depending on region. Make sure you check the Raffelcopter for details. The prizes:

1 winner will receive an entire print set of Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series - all 13 books! (US/Canada only)
10 winners will receive one copy of SPIDER’S TRAP (US/Canada only)
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (this is open internationally!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:45

 Adult, Assassin, Elemental Assassin, giveaway, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Publisher, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  2 People left their mark

Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

I've had to reduce the amount of time I spend reading and reviewing due to work and one of the casualties of this tragic change was BLACK WIDOW. For the first time in a long time, I'm putting up a review of a Jennifer Estep book long after its release and it feels weird, particularly since BLACK WIDOW is an outstanding book.

As I've said before, series often get stale when they hit double digits but not the Elemental Assassin series. BLACK WIDOW is the twelfth book in Gin's story and it's a very strong entry in the series, with lots of big moments that will keep you hooked from page to page. Why? It's the big confrontation between Gin and Madeline Monroe, the latest Big Bad in the series.

Spoilers ahead for previous novels!

Madeline's been trying her mother's place in both the underworld and glossy high society of Ashland and all of her machinations come to fruition in BLACK WIDOW. With everything set, she also unleashes her endgame against Gin and it's a confrontation that has been books in the making. Madeline's plans are suitably devious and it was gratifying to see Gin go up against a foe who's more than her equal in terms of strategy. None of Gin's previous victories have been terribly easy but she definitely has her mettle and her abilities tested in BLACK WIDOW. The book puts Gin and her friends and family through the wringer, emotionally and physically, and it was an incredibly exciting read.

Because the focus of the book is on the Gin vs. Madeline showdown, there's not a lot of development for other characters. All of the gang are involved in the novel but the focus is fully on Gin and her response to the major gauntlet that Madeline drops, going after everything and everyone that Gin values. Things happen that I never would have expected and it was so much fun (for me). Estep always writes great stories but this might be my favourite book in the series because Madeline's such a great nemesis.

The end of BLACK WIDOW is particularly exciting because it establishes a very interesting shift in the Ashland underworld. As always, no spoilers for BLACK WIDOW here but I will say that it's a thrilling way to wrap up to this chapter of Gin's story.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire by Molly Harper

Honestly, Molly Harper can do no wrong when it comes to writing paranormal romance fiction. She literally has me laughing out loud while reading her paranormal romance books. Combining snarky, remarkable and witty female characters with supernatural hot men is always entertaining, but somehow, Molly Harper is a genius when it comes to humor in paranormal romance. The funny banter and the hilarious situations is what keeps me coming back to this series or her books in general.

Realistically, the plot of The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire isn't all that extravagant, nor is it very detailed, but it does serve the purpose of advancing the story between Gigi and Nik. Gigi has landed the greatest summer job for a computer science undergrad and she's actually looking forward to working for the Vampire Council. However, she never expected to meet up with her mysterious vampire who kissed her and enthralled her during her last Christmas break. She was hurt when her mystery man left her after giving her the earth shattering kiss, without even saying a word. Now, what hurts even more is when Gigi and the mysterious man cross paths again, and he doesn't remember a thing about their heated kiss. Nik feels bad about his selective amnesia, but over time he starts to realize every thought in his mind about Gigi is muddled. Despite the mutual attraction, Nik can't stop trying to kill Gigi (involuntarily), and then forgetting about the attacks, almost as if he's being controlled by magic or something supernatural.

Amnesiacs are always fun to read because you never know how things will turn out. Reading about Gigi and Nik definitely was fun even though their relationship wasn't very believable. It felt too much like love at first sight. Gigi's older sister and brother-in-law forbid Gigi from seeing the centuries old vampire, but obviously forbidden love trumps over murderous fugue states from your vampire boyfriend. More scenes and more development between Gigi and Nik would have been fun and desirable.

The nerd in me is thrilled that Molly included so many pop culture references. Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, and Dr. Who references (and many more) were mentioned. Oddly enough, the references were not just thrown into the text for the heck of it. No, they were actually in context and they added an interesting layer to Gigi's character.

A light and fun supernatural read, this book is a definite read for any Molly Harper fans. It may not be the best book in the series, but it's a definite must if you want to read more about the comings and goings of the beloved vampires of the little town called Half-Moon Hollow. I'm glad the original Half-Moon Hollow vampire couple Jane and Gabriel were present, despite their brief appearances, because I really missed reading about their craziness. Gigi and Nik are a great addition to the gang, but I felt their story was a little bit too short, a little rushed for my tastes. I really hope Molly Harper has more vampire or werewolves stories to write because this girl needs her paranormal/pop culture fixes.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:38

 Half Moon Hollow, Magic, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Vampire, Witch  2 People left their mark

Giveaway: The Remedy by Suzanne Young

To celebrate the release of THE REMEDY by Suzanne Young, the first in a new series set in a world before The Program, Simon & Schuster if offering an awesome prize pack! Let me tell you a bite more about The Remedy before I get onto details.

About The Remedy:

Can one girl take on so many identities without losing her own? Find out in this riveting companion to The Program and the New York Times bestselling The Treatment.

In a world before The Program…

Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.

Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty. She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.

Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start.

Read an excerptS&S is offering to one American (US only) winner:

· a copy of The Remedy

· plus copies of Suzanne Young’s bestselling series The Program and The Treatment.

Giveaway ends, April 15th, 2015.

To enter, please fill the form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program series. Originally from Utica, New York, Suzanne moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She is a novelist and an English teacher, but not always in that order. Suzanne is the author of The Program, The Treatment, The Remedy, and A Need So Beautiful.

 

LEARN MORE

Learn More at SuzanneYoungAuthor.com
Visit the author on her Personal Blo
Follow Suzanne Young on Twitter and Facebook
#ReleaseTheRemedy

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:19

 giveaway, Simon Schuster, Suzanne Young  1 Person left their mark

How To Run With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

When it comes to Molly Harper books, you're always guaranteed at least a few laughs. HOW TO RUN WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF is no exception. Her books can always get me out of a reading funk because while they aren't necessarily great literature, they're fun and easy to read. I completely forgot that she was writing another book in her Naked Werewolf series, but I'm really glad I finally picked it up since it might just be my favorite out of the series.

In the first few pages, we are introduced to the main character "Anna Moder" but we don't really know her real name until well into the book. Anna is on the run, jumping around from city to city to avoid her abusive husband. Her case is the type where the law has a really hard time protecting abused women so she takes matters into her own hands and restarts her life with fake identities whenever her husband gets close to finding her. As a computer tech, her husband is very resourceful so she never feels completely safe, even on the run.

In comes Caleb Graham, an unlicensed private investigator/bounty hunter. She witnesses him being shot by one of his targets and her old car get blown up in the process. As a trained medical doctor, her first reflex is to help him and get him to a hospital. Despite him being a stranger, she lugs Graham into his truck, gets behind the wheel and drives towards the closest hospital near the remote Alaskan town they were in. Delirious, Graham refuses to go to the hospital so they end up in a motel room where she treats his already healing gunshot wound. Obviously, this situation isn't very realistic but it's a great setting for laugh out loud moments. Especially since Anna obviously knows that he's a werewolf, but Graham doesn't know she knows, and never admits it.

Anna and Graham find themselves on the road together, travelling the picturesque Alaskan roads, working his bounty hunting jobs together and getting to know one another in the process. Steamy motel room situations, stripper bar fights and awkward fugitive apprehensions are a few of the awesome situations Anna and Graham find themselves in. The longer they're together the closer they get. It's obvious their interest for one another becomes stronger, and their bed sharing turns into a lot more than just bed sharing.

For a chick lit, Holly Harper was still able to incorporate darker themes like marital abuse and stalking. For entertainment purposes, situations were obviously exaggerated but I applaud Molly Harper for taking a chance with this novel. The fact that she writes books with amazing and strong female leads, only emphasizes how resilient and capable women can be. The expected happy ending enforces the fact that abuse situations can take a turn for the better with encouragement and a strong support group. The story gravitates around Anna and Graham but it wouldn't be possible without the cast of great secondary characters. The novel is well rounded, an absolute page turner and definitely up there on my list of awesome chick lit.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:35

 Chick Lit, Library, Molly Harper, Naked Werewolf, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, werewolf  2 People left their mark

Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

POISON PROMISE is the eleventh book in Jennifer Estep's amazing Elemental Assassin series and, boy, does it deliver!

For the first time in a long time, Gin's troubles are not directly related to her life as an assassin. Instead, this time around, Gin ends up doing the looking after Catalina, one of her waitresses at the Pork Pig, gets accosted by drug dealers. Of course, things escalate fairly dramatically from there, leading to a dangerous enemy, a whole new side of Bria, and some pretty epic moments, including a standout fight that takes place in a public street.

Personally, I was really interested in the development in Bria's storyline. She's desperately trying to get Burn off the streets and it's become very personal for her. The Bria we get in POISON PROMISE is a far cry from the one we met when she first came into the series, when she was gentler and happier. In POISON PROMISE, Bria is ready to go vigilante to get justice and this newfound ruthlessness was really surprising because Bria is one of the only honest cops in Ashland. On the other side of the coin, though, Bria's sense of justice is incredibly strong so it's not out of character for her to become fixated on bringing the Burn dealer down. She's pushed to her limits by the situation and it's a nice role reversal to see Gin talking her sister down from violence and rash actions.

There's not much doing on the romance front in POISON PROMISE -- but that's a good thing! Gin and Owen are doing well and I'm glad that the focus of this novel was on the Burn storyline, not on tearing them apart as soon as they've gotten back together. They have their stolen moments of romance and it's still really sweet to see Gin have these softer scenes where she can forget about being the Spider and enjoy being in love. I keep hoping that Philip will finally make his move with Eva but I guess I'll have to keep waiting.

POISON PROMISE also advances the M. M. Monroe story arc, giving us some very interesting information. Once you start reading, you'll see what I mean but it would truly spoil your experience to write out what happens. The clues are seeded throughout the novel and it's gotten me very excited to see what Estep has in store for us in BLACK WIDOW. She ends POISON PROMISE in a way that will have you screaming for the next book in the series.

As always, I have nothing but good things to say about this Elemental Assassin novel. You'll love POISON PROMISE, guaranteed.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

Banishing the Dark by Jenn Bennett

One of the best books of the year, hands down! Jenn Bennett has knocked it out of the park with BANISHING THE DARK, creating a strong, emotional finale for Cady's journey.

I had high expectations for BANISHING THE DARK because Bennett has given us such an amazing journey so far. I couldn't wait to see how Cady would react to the news of her pregnancy, especially on the heels of the foundation-shattering revelations  about her Moonchild abilities. (You may remember  my OMG reaction to BINDING THE SHADOWS.) BANISHING THE DARK picks up shortly after the end of the previous novel and all of the questions that I had  at the end of Book 3 are answered in the newest novel, and then some. I've always said that Bennett is a talented and daring writer and Cady's final book is truly a dazzling finish to Cady, Lon, and  Jupe's  journey.

The main focus BANISHING THE DARK is Cady and Lon's need to master Cady's abilities and keep Cady's mom from taking over Cady's body. She'd be a supercharged villainess with amazing powers and that wouldn't be good for the world, let alone Cady, who would be a prisoner in her own body. They also need to conceal Cady's pregnancy from her mother, in case Mommy Dearest decides to inhabit their unborn child. A complicated scenario, especially when they're missing a lot of the pieces needed to succeed. As always, Bennett has crafted an immensely satisfying plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering how Cady and Lon will get themselves out of this mess.

One of the neat things about BANISHING THE DARK is that Bennett has added chapters from Jupe's point of view. I adore Jupe and this was a real treat. He's such a charming young man and the chapters about him really added to the overall narrative. I don't know about you but I would definitely  read a story told from Jupe's point of view!

BANISHING THE DARK is the final instalment in the Arcadia Belll's story and it's a humdinger! I'm sorry to say goodbye to Cady and her friends but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the emotional journey that Bennett has given us. You can be sure I'll be re-reading this series on a very regular basis.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Arcadia Bell, Edelweiss, Jenn Bennett, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  5 People left their mark

The Treatment by Suzanne Young

The Treatment is the sequel to The Program and it is also the conclusion to The Program duology. Suzanne Young really does an excellent job of building the story that began with The Program and at the same time, tying up all of the plot lines. The Treatment is equally thrilling and poignant; this is one of the best series conclusions I've ever read by far. Young really wrote the perfect ending to this series and it was truly an emotional roller-coaster ride.

Sloane and James have escaped the clutches of The Program and they are now wanted criminals. The Program will not stop till they find Sloane and James, our main characters aren't safe anywhere in the country. Both Sloane and James decided to join up with a group of rebels, but how do they know if these rebels are trustworthy? Sloane and James have lost most of their memories and they have the treatment, a pill that would bring back their memories. Are the memories that Sloane and James lost better off forgotten?

Sloane is one of my favorite YA characters because her character is just so richly and realistically developed. Suzanne Young really knows how to pull on readers' heartstrings and my heart was constantly aching for Sloane. I truly loved how even though Sloane was in a less than ideal situation, she always tried her best to make the best of the situation. Sloane is a really clever protagonist and I loved how independent and strong-willed she is.

James always knows just what to say to make me laugh out loud, which really helped add some comic relief to this extremely emotional thriller. I absolutely loved James's dry wit and his banter left a smile on my face even after I had finished reading. James is truly a character that readers will swoon over and his interactions with Sloane were absolutely adorable.

The Treatment does an excellent job of demonstrating how damaging suicide is to peoples' lives. The world Young has created isn't all that different from the world we live in and it's not such a far-fetched idea that suicide could become an epidemic. The Treatment is extremely thought-provoking and really will make readers think: "Is it better just to forget the past?" I know some people would rather just leave the trouble riddled past behind, but Young really shows how people can use their woes to empower them. This is an extremely powerful and important series that needs to be read; there's so many important themes about love, loss, and moving on in The Program series.

The Treatment is extremely thrilling and addicting to read and I zoomed through this book because I was so engaged in the story. Young does an excellent job of constantly raising the stakes and creating a tense, ominous atmosphere. This is by far one of the best "dystopian" novels out there and few novels have really captured my attention the way The Treatment did. The Treatment was truly unpredictable and I was completely shocked by all of the plot twists, especially towards the ending. The ending to this novel was absolutely perfect and I can't think of any better way to conclude The Program series.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Review, Simon Pulse, Simon Schuster, Suzanne Young, The Program, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Demon From the Dark by Kresley Cole

Another passionate novel in an amazing series! Immortals After Dark is my favorite paranormal romance series out there, and I'm glad to say Kresley Cole delivered once again a page-turner.

This time around, we witness the growing relationship between Carrow, a rebel witch who's been kidnapped and pressured to recover a vemon, and said venom (demon turned vampire), Malkom. I think what I liked most were the numerous and virtually unbeatable challenges they had to face in their relationship. The biggest one being the language barrier. Carrow speaks English, and understand very little demonish. Malkom on the under hand used to know a little English, but due to dire circumstances, he forced this language out of his brain and speaks only demonish now. It's one hell of a barrier to overcome, especially when all the psychologists agree that communication is the key to a lasting relationship lol

There's is also a small detail like the fact that Carrow is suppose to seduce him so she can drag him back to the human facility holding her adopted daughter in hostage. How can you get involved in a relationship doomed from the start? Especially since Malkom seems to be such a careless brute, all seven feet of him. The Demon also bears numerous psychological traumas and Carrow can only glimpse the tip of the iceberg. The poor hero has been betrayed once and again and trust doesn't come easy. I thought it was smart of Cole to put Malkom in a position where he had to trust Carrow, when her intentions are to betray him from the start. Her moral debate was even better when she realized she was starting to have feelings for him but knew deep down it wouldn't change the outcome.

Cole's writing was as usual extremely engaging and I kept turning pages late into the night. I liked that plot events kind of split the timeline of our hero's relationship in three: The pre-betrayal romance, the actual betrayal and anger, and the possible reconciliation. The whole novel was a roller-coaster of emotions and I enjoyed myself very much! 

The conclusion promises much action in the novel to come because the situation in which Carrow and Malkom found themselves is far from settled, and I'm extremely curious to see what comes next.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Adult, Demon, Immortals After Dark, Kresley Cole, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Witch  4 People left their mark

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Molly Harper’s writing style. The humor and sarcasm is right on par with mine and her characters are so easy to like. THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES is no exception to that, even if I have been reading this series out of order. While there was nothing extra special about this book compared to Harper’s other ones, I really enjoyed reading this one is particular. Probably because her characters felt authentic and the interactions between them were so amusing.

In my opinion, Iris and Cal are a great addition to the cast of Half-Moon Hollow, the little Kentucky town were many of Harper’s books are based. For such a small town, it has a tendency to attract a lot of supernatural events. In this case, Cal is drawn to the town because of the uncharacteristically harsh vampire killing happening all over the country. Apparently some vampires are being poisoned by drinking bad batches of synthetic blood, which is making them go more or less crazy and kill whoever’s near them. And Half-Moon Hollow is the place to investigate because it’s the location of the first dramatic kill. Cal is hired to investigate what’s going on and he unwittingly becomes a target for poisoning himself. He ends up getting really sick and passing out on his kitchen floor after drinking blood from a town welcoming basket. Iris, the main character of the story, literally stumbles upon him as she’s dropping off a client contract for Cal to sign. As a “personal errand girl” for vampires and vampire needs, she usually does a lot of things for her clients but cleaning them up and caring for them (especially feeding them straight from the source) is not in her job description.

It goes against Iris’s southern upbringing to simply leave this vampire out in the sun and when he asks her to help him by lodging him in her house, she can’t refuse. The huge amount of money he offers kind of seals the deal… Laying low in her house and hiding from the vampire community while he recuperates is his goal but as he gets better, the investigation into the killings and his poisoning becomes a priority. When you have a very good looking vampire and a young woman living together, you can expect sparks to fly, especially when you’re reading a paranormal romance. Cal and Iris have a lot of chemistry and although their relationship is an odd one, it’s really fun to read the scenes with their hilarious banter. The sex scenes are just an added bonus.

Personally, I think what makes this book different from the author’s other books is the relationship between Iris and her younger sister Gigi. Orphaned as a teen, Gigi had to turn to her older sister for guidance and parenting. While their relationship isn’t a typical one, I think even if Iris plays the role of single parent, they’re sisters first and their relationship is one that anybody would wish to have with a sibling.

Southern charm, hilarious moments, and great characters are what I’ve come to expect from Molly Harper and she really delivers with this book. If you’re in the mood for a good laugh and a straight forward story, this is one to pick up. One of my guilty pleasures is a good chick-lit book and Harper has a knack for adding paranormal elements to chick-lit stories. As the first of a spin-off series, this is definitely a book you can dive into if you haven’t read any of Harper’s other books.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:55

 Adult, Half Moon Hollow, Library, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Poison, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, vampires  1 Person left their mark

The Spider by Jennifer Estep

Can you believe that THE SPIDER is the tenth book in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series? And that it's still so good? Not many series make it to double digits and stay fresh but Estep's managed to do it with Gin and her increasingly dangerous lifestyle. But in THE SPIDER we see something a little different since the bulk of the story is a flashback to one of Gin's early assassinations and the fallout that ensued. It's fairly obvious that she survives since it's a flashback but it's also a seminal moment in Gin's development as an assassin so it's pretty cool to be able to see a younger, less experienced Gin getting her feet wet. What should be a straightforward assassination ends up being something much more layered and complex and it puts Gin through the wringer, both physically and emotionally. (One of the trademarks of an Elemental Assassin novel!)

For me, the best part of THE SPIDER is the opportunity to see Fletcher Lane in action. He's one of the major influences in Gin's life and it's really cool to see him doing his thing as the Tin Man. I've always wanted to know him better since what we've seen of Fletcher (primarily through Gin's memories) thoroughly intrigued me and THE SPIDER finally gives us the opportunity to see Fletcher Lane in his prime. We also get to see Finn when he was a bit more brash, which was a real treat since he's so suave and composed during most of the series.

There are some great little cameos in THE SPIDER. Some of them were quite unexpected so I don't want to spoil it but I will say that some familiar names will pop up outside of Fletcher, Finn, Jo-Jo, and Sophia. It's great to see some of the first meetings between characters and it's fun to see the threads that Estep is able to sew into the series with this novel.

As always, kudos to Estep for crafting a delightful novel. THE SPIDER is a really fresh entry into one of my favourite series. It puts the ongoing mystery of M. M. Monroe on hold but it gives us a great opportunity to delve into Gin's history and see just why she's so good at what she does. Origin stories are always a lot of fun and while this doesn't tell the full story of Gin becoming the Spider, it does give the reader a great deal of insight into how she went from an angry teenager to an incredibly patient and lethal assassin. I truly hope there are more flashback stories in our future.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

Novella November: Kiss of Venom by Jennifer Estep

It's Owen time! Like most fans of the series, I haven't been too thrilled with Owen Grayson, ever since he went and broke the heart of my favourite assassin, so I was deathly curious about KISS OF VENOM. It is, after all, the first time we get to be inside Owen's head. And what an interesting and tormented place it is! KISS OF VENOM takes place between DEADLY STING and HEART OF VENOM, so Owen and Gin are on the outs but are in a better place than before the craziness at the Briartop Museum (in DEADLY STING). Owen feel like a butthead (because he was a butthead -- an understandable  butthead but a butthead nonetheless) so he's not really sure how it interact with Gin when he sees her at Northern Aggression, a club owed by their friend Roslyn.

What I liked best about KISS OF VENOM is watching Owen repair his friendship with Phillip Kincaid. I have a major soft spot for Phillip, in no small part due to his soft spot for Owen's sister Eva. Phillip and Eva give us glimpses into Owen's past, in addition to being great characters on their own, and I'm always excited to see them on the page. And Owen and Phillip out for a night on the town is something I never thought I'd see, at least not from one of their points of view, so that was a real treat. Of course, it's no Elemental Assassin story if someone's not out to kill Gin but now it's Owen's turn to do the dirty work. KISS OF VENOM shows you how strong his feelings are for Gin, and also gives you a lot of insight into what makes him tick. We got a lot of information about Owen's history in WIDOW'S WEB thanks to Salina but you really see how those events shaped him with this little window into his mind.

I would suggest reading KISS OF VENOM after you've finished with DEADLY STING, not just because reading things chronologically is always best IMHO but because there are references to events from that novel in KISS OF VENOM. This novella isn't an essential read since you can move from DEADLY STING to HEART OF VENOM without any issues but it's definitely worth checking out if you want a better sense of Owen Grayson, or just some extra time in the Elemental Assassin world. As always, Estep has knocked it out of the park.

Read an excerpt (scroll down to Excerpt tab)

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Assassin, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Novella November, Pocket Star, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

Giveaway: Overpowered by Mark H. Kruger

 Thanks to AuthorsOnTheWeb, we have an exciting giveaway for you guys: two (2) copies of Mark H. Kruger's new young adult science fiction thriller, OVERPOWERED.

The world’s safest town might actually be a deadly kind of dangerous. And Nica Ashley is about to learn the hard way.

Nica Ashley is accustomed to traveling the globe with her journalist mother, so when she gets sent to live in a small town with the father she barely knows, she’s in for a bit of a culture shock. Barrington prides itself on being a sleepy, family community with the lowest crime rates in the state of Colorado. There’s even a private security force run by Barrington Technology (BarTech) and a nightly curfew for all residents.

On Nica’s first day at school, she meets Jackson Winters and finds out he went from school superstar to living ghost after his girlfriend disappeared a few months ago. When Nica follows him out after curfew one night, they both witness a mysterious green flash—and the next morning the power has gone out and all the birds are dead.

But secrets are well and alive, and as Nica and some of her friends discover they now have abilities best described as “super,” they also realize that Barrington might not be so safe. And that BarTech is looking for them.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

To enter the giveaway, just do what the Rafflecopter says! =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 giveaway, Mark H. Kruger, Simon Schuster, young adult  4 People left their mark

Bound by Night by Larissa Ione

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release date: September 24, 2013

Series: MoonBound

Source: Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD
Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE
A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury him forever.

In a world where vampires are hunted and enslaved, we are far from your typical romance story. Nicole is at the head of the biggest company in the vampire trade business and even though she prides herself in her scientific work (she found a cure to cancer!), she despises the slavery aspect of the work. Scared to death of vampires after her family slaves rebelled and killed everyone, she still misses her sweet nanny Therese. Her killer, Riker, stills hunts her nightmares at night, twenty years later. For his part, Riker is out for revenge, wanting to kill every Martins in his way. Kidnapping Nicole to retrieve a kidnapped female is the ultimate goal, but the side benefits of torturing the enemy makes the whole deal that much more enticing.

This whole new world by Larissa Ione is completely different from her previous series set in the Demonica world, and even though the vibe is very different, I loved it just as much. I can’t help but compare the two because her two previous series were set in the same huge rich world but this one felt a bit more contained (which isn’t a bad thing!). The story revolves around the MoonBound clan, which Riker is part of and their quest to retrieve a female vampire to avoid war with her original clan. All the action happens in Seattle and the surrounding woods and MoonBound is facing imminent war with a neighbourhood clan, and I feel like this somewhat intimate atmosphere will allow us to get to know each characters better.

Speaking of characters, miss Ione once again blessed with an amazing selection. Nicole and Riker are of course front and center and I loved them both. Yes at time I wanted to smack Riker on the head because he was being stupid, but hey, it’s always a good thing to feel emotional about characters! I loved their romance and how everything unfolded. Their issues and fights felt very vivid and plausible and I enjoyed it all. I also fell for Myne, a weird lonely vampire, Bastien, a rescued youth and Aylin, whom we meet at the very end. I must admit I am also fascinated with Hunter, the MoonBound clan’s leader.

The Lore Larissa created was particularly rich and fascinating. Vampires are rumoured to originate from a fight between two Native American leaders which ended up and their death and a subsequent fight between a raven and a crow. The details aren't very explicit, but again, it’s a rumour! Born vampires also have special abilities as opposed to turned vampires, which isn’t a first in vampire literature, but Larissa also brought her own twist to the table. There is also this great event surrounding the new moon, in links with very unique feeding practice that I thought brought a nice touch.

I was drawn into this new world right from the epilogue and the whole trip felt way to short, I confess, I wanted more. The plot is especially packed with action, sexual energy and a strong sense of urgency. A lot is at stake and the very future of MoonBound clans lay on Nicole and Riker’s shoulders. The tension was palpable most of the novel and I stayed on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I especially liked surprise curve ball Larissa Ione threw at us and the ending simply killed me. I can’t wait to see what’s next! My guess is that Hunter & Aylin will be featured and that a different MoonBound couple will be the star of each instalment.

I was highly satisfied with Bound By Night, the first novel in Larissa’s brand new series and I strongly suggest you give it a try. Paranormal Romance lovers will be please and fans of Ione won’t be disappointed!

Read an Excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 06:59

 Larissa Ione, Review, Simon Schuster, Vampire  Leave your mark

Bound by Night by Larissa Ione

In a world where vampires are hunted and enslaved, we are far from your typical romance story. Nicole is at the head of the biggest company in the vampire trade business and even though she prides herself in her scientific work (she found a cure to cancer!), she despises the slavery aspect of the work. Scared to death of vampires after her family slaves rebelled and killed everyone, she still misses her sweet nanny Therese. Her killer, Riker, stills hunts her nightmares at night, twenty years later. For his part, Riker is out for revenge, wanting to kill every Martins in his way. Kidnapping Nicole to retrieve a kidnapped female is the ultimate goal, but the side benefits of torturing the enemy makes the whole deal that much more enticing.

This whole new world by Larissa Ione is completely different from her previous series set in the Demonica world, and even though the vibe is very different, I loved it just as much. I can’t help but compare the two because her two previous series were set in the same huge rich world but this one felt a bit more contained (which isn’t a bad thing!). The story revolves around the MoonBound clan, which Riker is part of and their quest to retrieve a female vampire to avoid war with her original clan. All the action happens in Seattle and the surrounding woods and MoonBound is facing imminent war with a neighbourhood clan, and I feel like this somewhat intimate atmosphere will allow us to get to know each characters better.

Speaking of characters, miss Ione once again blessed with an amazing selection. Nicole and Riker are of course front and center and I loved them both. Yes at time I wanted to smack Riker on the head because he was being stupid, but hey, it’s always a good thing to feel emotional about characters! I loved their romance and how everything unfolded. Their issues and fights felt very vivid and plausible and I enjoyed it all. I also fell for Myne, a weird lonely vampire, Bastien, a rescued youth and Aylin, whom we meet at the very end. I must admit I am also fascinated with Hunter, the MoonBound clan’s leader.

The Lore Larissa created was particularly rich and fascinating. Vampires are rumoured to originate from a fight between two Native American leaders which ended up and their death and a subsequent fight between a raven and a crow. The details aren't very explicit, but again, it’s a rumour! Born vampires also have special abilities as opposed to turned vampires, which isn’t a first in vampire literature, but Larissa also brought her own twist to the table. There is also this great event surrounding the new moon, in links with very unique feeding practice that I thought brought a nice touch.

I was drawn into this new world right from the epilogue and the whole trip felt way to short, I confess, I wanted more. The plot is especially packed with action, sexual energy and a strong sense of urgency. A lot is at stake and the very future of MoonBound clans lay on Nicole and Riker’s shoulders. The tension was palpable most of the novel and I stayed on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I especially liked surprise curve ball Larissa Ione threw at us and the ending simply killed me. I can’t wait to see what’s next! My guess is that Hunter & Aylin will be featured and that a different MoonBound couple will be the star of each instalment.

I was highly satisfied with Bound By Night, the first novel in Larissa’s brand new series and I strongly suggest you give it a try. Paranormal Romance lovers will be please and fans of Ione won’t be disappointed!

Read an Excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:59

 Adult, Edelweiss, Larissa Ione, MoonBound, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Vampire  Leave your mark

Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Trade paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: Pocket
Release date: August 27, 2013

Series: Elemental Assassin #9

Source: eARC via Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The hotly anticipated ninth novel in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series finds Gin Blanco on a dangerous mission to rescue a friend.

When a terror from the past threatens Gin’s friend and body-disposer, Sophia, Gin will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means walking straight into a killer’s trap. Meanwhile, the rocky romance between Gin and Owen reaches a turning point—can they reunite and rekindle their love? Or will the things Gin has been forced to do in her line of work as the deadly assassin the Spider keep them apart forever? Assuming, that is, she survives long enough to find out…

Wowza, was HEART OF VENOM good! It opens with a great scene with Finn, Gin, and a body dump, a scene filled with a lot of dry humour, and shortly thereafter we're off on a whirlwind adventure in the mountains. It's no secret that I am a huge Jennifer Estep fan, and with my fandom come great expectations, and I'm so happy to say that she really knocked it out of the park with this one. HEART OF VENOM is an amazing adventure with high stakes, character revelations, and crazy action scenes!

As always, I was completely engrossed by Gin's latest adventure. But this time, it wasn't just because of Gin and her adventure -- this time, I was really excited to get to know more about Sophia and Jo-Jo's past. They've always been solid support for Gin, watching her grow up, helping her with her assassination career without judgment -- but we've never really learned too much about their past and where they came from. In HEART OF VENOM, we learn exactly why they ended up in Ashland and exactly how scary things once were for them (especially Sophia). We knew that Sophia's voice was ruined by someone who made her breathe in elemental fire but now we get to meet this person and the rest of the madcap gang and it's not a pretty thing. Sophia's experiences with Harley and Hazel Grimes are singularly horrifying and you'll see that Sophia's mental strength matches -- or surpasses -- her physical strength. The things that Harley and Hazel force her to do and experience are atrocious and you will be rooting for Team Gin in ways you never have before. If you thought Mab was a crazy dame, well, she had nothing on Hazel.

(What is it about crazy elemental ladies?? It seems like we can't go one novel without running into some insane, powerful female elemental.)

This scenario also shows us just how much Sophia and Jo-Jo mean to Gin. I think it's always been clear that they are important to her both personally and professionally but the depth of her feelings and devotion to them are showcased in HEART OF VENOM. There's nothing Gin wouldn't do for these two women and it's great to see the rest of Gin's friends and family rally around the cause. (Which I won't discuss in detail here because, you know, spoilers...)

Other great stuff? There's some serious discussion between Gin and Owen about where they stand with each other. Their discussion is frank and open and I really liked it. I'm pleased that Owen wasn't 100% okay with Gin killing his ex-lover and that it took some time for him to deal with it. He wouldn't be a realistic character if that didn't force him to think about what it means to be in love with an assassin. And I like that Gin didn't back down from her actions, either in the moment or in later books. But now, in HEART OF VENOM, we get some quality scenes with the two of them discussing their past and the potential for them to have a future. The Gin/Owen stuff always pulls at my heart and their interactions in this book are really emotion-laden and well written.

Nine books in, Estep's Elemental Assassin series continues to deliver urban fantasy gold. The plots are twisty and innovative, there's always more to learn about these characters, and Estep's writing is consistently top-notch. You'll never be disappointed by one of her novels, though you may walk away hungry since there's always at least one scene in which Gin makes the most delicious food!

Read an excerpt

Read More

Posted by jenn at 07:00

 Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Review, Simon Schuster  Leave your mark

Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

Wowza, was HEART OF VENOM good! It opens with a great scene with Finn, Gin, and a body dump, a scene filled with a lot of dry humour, and shortly thereafter we're off on a whirlwind adventure in the mountains. It's no secret that I am a huge Jennifer Estep fan, and with my fandom come great expectations, and I'm so happy to say that she really knocked it out of the park with this one. HEART OF VENOM is an amazing adventure with high stakes, character revelations, and crazy action scenes!

As always, I was completely engrossed by Gin's latest adventure. But this time, it wasn't just because of Gin and her adventure -- this time, I was really excited to get to know more about Sophia and Jo-Jo's past. They've always been solid support for Gin, watching her grow up, helping her with her assassination career without judgment -- but we've never really learned too much about their past and where they came from. In HEART OF VENOM, we learn exactly why they ended up in Ashland and exactly how scary things once were for them (especially Sophia). We knew that Sophia's voice was ruined by someone who made her breathe in elemental fire but now we get to meet this person and the rest of the madcap gang and it's not a pretty thing. Sophia's experiences with Harley and Hazel Grimes are singularly horrifying and you'll see that Sophia's mental strength matches -- or surpasses -- her physical strength. The things that Harley and Hazel force her to do and experience are atrocious and you will be rooting for Team Gin in ways you never have before. If you thought Mab was a crazy dame, well, she had nothing on Hazel.

(What is it about crazy elemental ladies?? It seems like we can't go one novel without running into some insane, powerful female elemental.)

This scenario also shows us just how much Sophia and Jo-Jo mean to Gin. I think it's always been clear that they are important to her both personally and professionally but the depth of her feelings and devotion to them are showcased in HEART OF VENOM. There's nothing Gin wouldn't do for these two women and it's great to see the rest of Gin's friends and family rally around the cause. (Which I won't discuss in detail here because, you know, spoilers...)

Other great stuff? There's some serious discussion between Gin and Owen about where they stand with each other. Their discussion is frank and open and I really liked it. I'm pleased that Owen wasn't 100% okay with Gin killing his ex-lover and that it took some time for him to deal with it. He wouldn't be a realistic character if that didn't force him to think about what it means to be in love with an assassin. And I like that Gin didn't back down from her actions, either in the moment or in later books. But now, in HEART OF VENOM, we get some quality scenes with the two of them discussing their past and the potential for them to have a future. The Gin/Owen stuff always pulls at my heart and their interactions in this book are really emotion-laden and well written.

Nine books in, Estep's Elemental Assassin series continues to deliver urban fantasy gold. The plots are twisty and innovative, there's always more to learn about these characters, and Estep's writing is consistently top-notch. You'll never be disappointed by one of her novels, though you may walk away hungry since there's always at least one scene in which Gin makes the most delicious food!

Read an excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release date: February 16, 2010

Series: Immortals After Dark #9

Reviewed by: Tynga

Source: Personal Shelf

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Kresley Cole enraptures again with this seductive tale of a fierce werewolf prince who will stop at nothing to protect the lovely archer he covets from afar.

A Dangerous Beauty
Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her—and those she loves.

An Uncontrolled Need
Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

That lead to a pleasure so wicked...
From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia's greatest weakness—her wanton desire for him.

Garreth has been waiting for his mate for centuries, hoping she would prove to be a challenge, and Lord was he served! Never would he have thought that his mate would come in the form of a Valkyrie sworn to chastity. How is a wolf suppose to claim his mate without having sex? More determined than ever, MacLain will chase her across the world for months before he actually gets a chance. But is Lucia willing to sacrifice all that she is for him? Highly doubtful!

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole is the ninth book in the series and it’s always a pleasure to come back to these characters that have grown on me overtime. This particular novel’s storyline actual starts before the events of the first book (where Lachlain meets Emmaline) and I enjoyed reliving these moments from a new perceptive. It’s also quite funny because while I was reading Garreth’s story, my mom was reading Lachlain’s story, so we were both reading the same time period in the series from different perspectives. This story takes place over the course of over a year, thus many books in the series, and I always appreciate the intricate way miss Cole weaves her stories together.

I particularly liked this instalment because even though it’s never a done deal for Cole’s characters to be together, this couple faced the biggest challenges thus far. Garreth will suffers indescribable pain in hopes to claim his mate, promise the moon to Lucia (in a no-sex way), even submit himself to witch magic (which he despise), all with the tiniest hope that she will accept him. He suffers for over a year for her and I can’t help but bow to his strength and determination. Don’t get me wrong, Lucia isn’t torturing him for pleasure, but she is on a mission to stop the apocalypse and giving in to earthly pleasure could mean the end of the world. She remained strong in a quest to save the world and face her own nightmare and her pride wouldn’t allow her to seek help. I never particularly cared for her in previous books, and I came to like and respect her in this novel. 

The plot proved to be engaging and fast-paced, as usual, and I liked that Kresley Cole took us to mystical parts of the Amazon. The original scenery helped bring an exotic feeling to the novel, it’s like I could almost feel the heat. The whole set-up exudes a strong India Jones and Lara Croft feel as our hero set on a quest to recover a magical weapon. The conclusion was also highly surprising and I never foresaw the story enfolding the way it did.

On a side note, I must mention my undying love for Nyx. She is packed with awesomeness and really, as amazing as Kresley’s books are, it wouldn’t be the same without her craziness. I say this every review of this series, but I can’t wait for her to have her own story, or even her own POV in one of the coming books, so we can finally get a glimpse of what’s going on in that head of hers!

Immortals After Dark is by far one of my favorite paranormal romance series and I must urge you to give this series a try. It’s thrilling, engaging, smoking-hot and has an healthy dose of humour. It is bound to please you!

Read an Excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 05:33

 Kresley Cole, Review, Simon Schuster, Valkyrie, werewolf  2 People left their mark

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole

Garreth has been waiting for his mate for centuries, hoping she would prove to be a challenge, and Lord was he served! Never would he have thought that his mate would come in the form of a Valkyrie sworn to chastity. How is a wolf suppose to claim his mate without having sex? More determined than ever, MacLain will chase her across the world for months before he actually gets a chance. But is Lucia willing to sacrifice all that she is for him? Highly doubtful!

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole is the ninth book in the series and it’s always a pleasure to come back to these characters that have grown on me overtime. This particular novel’s storyline actual starts before the events of the first book (where Lachlain meets Emmaline) and I enjoyed reliving these moments from a new perceptive. It’s also quite funny because while I was reading Garreth’s story, my mom was reading Lachlain’s story, so we were both reading the same time period in the series from different perspectives. This story takes place over the course of over a year, thus many books in the series, and I always appreciate the intricate way miss Cole weaves her stories together.

I particularly liked this instalment because even though it’s never a done deal for Cole’s characters to be together, this couple faced the biggest challenges thus far. Garreth will suffers indescribable pain in hopes to claim his mate, promise the moon to Lucia (in a no-sex way), even submit himself to witch magic (which he despise), all with the tiniest hope that she will accept him. He suffers for over a year for her and I can’t help but bow to his strength and determination. Don’t get me wrong, Lucia isn’t torturing him for pleasure, but she is on a mission to stop the apocalypse and giving in to earthly pleasure could mean the end of the world. She remained strong in a quest to save the world and face her own nightmare and her pride wouldn’t allow her to seek help. I never particularly cared for her in previous books, and I came to like and respect her in this novel.

The plot proved to be engaging and fast-paced, as usual, and I liked that Kresley Cole took us to mystical parts of the Amazon. The original scenery helped bring an exotic feeling to the novel, it’s like I could almost feel the heat. The whole set-up exudes a strong India Jones and Lara Croft feel as our hero set on a quest to recover a magical weapon. The conclusion was also highly surprising and I never foresaw the story enfolding the way it did.

On a side note, I must mention my undying love for Nyx. She is packed with awesomeness and really, as amazing as Kresley’s books are, it wouldn’t be the same without her craziness. I say this every review of this series, but I can’t wait for her to have her own story, or even her own POV in one of the coming books, so we can finally get a glimpse of what’s going on in that head of hers!

Immortals After Dark is by far one of my favorite paranormal romance series and I must urge you to give this series a try. It’s thrilling, engaging, smoking-hot and has an healthy dose of humour. It is bound to please you!

Read an Excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:33

 Immortals After Dark, Kresley Cole, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Valkyrie, werewolf  2 People left their mark