Poison Study by Maria V Snyder
Book Stats:
Genre: Fantasy / YA
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Mira
Release date: December 1, 2008
Series: Study #1
Source: Personal Shelf
Reviewed by: Tynga
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a good taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear… Yelena never had it easy. She grew up in an orphanage and ended-up locked in the Commander’s dungeon after she killed the son of the man who took her in at age 6. Under the Commander’s rule, murder (premeditated or accidental) is punishable by death. On the day she was to meet with the noose, she was offered another option. She could taste the Commander’s food and risk death by poisoning any day, or meet her fate right away. Hoping for escape, she chose to become the food taster, but after escaping multiple murder attempts, she realizes poisoning might be the least of her worries. I’ve had the Study series books on my bookshelves since 2009 and I can’t believe it took me so long the read them. I’ve read the entire series and the spin-off series (the Glass series) in about two weeks and they were all so good I couldn’t pause to write my reviews. Right after reading the first page of Poison Study I was hooked and knew I was in for an epic ride. Set in a medieval setting with a government led by military, Poison Study is engrossing, heart-thumbing and dangerous. All the elements for an exceptional book, including a love interest (!), were present and I couldn’t find an aspect I didn’t like. While reading, I was reminded of the atmosphere present in Graceling by Kristin Cashore (another book I’m nuts for) and I was in Heaven! The plot is intricate and surprising. All the event are flowing even though they don’t seem related at first. Maria kept just the good amount of intrigue knitted with an expert dose of answers, to keep you on your toes and have you craving for more. The characters are also a big part of the appeal. Yelena is stunning. She grows from unsteady girl to a strong woman in front of our eyes and it’s a delight to witness. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of a couple of friends though. Valek works as an assassin for the Commander and he is Yelena’s immediate superior. He’s a sneaky bastard made of awesome and I love him to pieces! Ari and Janco, two soldiers in the Commander’s army will also befriend with Yelena and they bicker all the time like an old married couple. They always put a spark of hope and humor in certain-death situation, making the tension bearable. The conclusion was surprising and exciting, and as you can guess, I was extremely glad to have the second book awaiting for me, which I picked up right away! And I can tell you, after reading the trilogy, that even though all the books were great, Poison Study was my favorite. Mostly because the action is in Ixia vs Sitia. My Verdict: Poison Study is a work of genius by Maria V Snyder. Everything from the plot, the pace, the characters, is perfectly set-up for this novel to be unforgettable. If you love fantasy books, this is one of the best you’ll be able to find! Read an Excerpt
Posted by
Tynga
at
16:56
Hey my fellow book lovers! I announced 3 weeks ago I was awaiting a baby and yesterday I went to the 12 weeks ultrasound and we discovered that we should be having a baby boy *throws confetti* I say should, because at 12 weeks they are still very tiny, so there’s possibility of a mistake, but the technician seemed pretty sure ^^ Sorry don’t have a better shot where we can see his arms and legs =( I was surprised by how fast he grew and it was awesome to see him move! He was sleepy and didn’t want to move for the pictures at first, he even turned his back on us showing us his tiny booty lol. It was really amazing and I can’t wait to see him again in 2 months! My husband and I started discussing names, and so far Joshua is a winner, we still have 6 months to decide though, so if you have name suggestions, feel free to shoot them! A little inspiration is always nice :) *a very happy soon-to-be mom*
Posted by
Tynga
at
16:41
Nocturne by Syrie James Book Stats: Reading level: Adult Genre: Paranormal romance Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Vanguard Release date: August 2, 2011 Series: n/a Reviewed by: Jenn Source: FSB Associates / Vanguard Press Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository From international bestselling author Syrie James comes a haunting and deeply romantic story of forbidden love that will steal your heart and never let you go. When Nicole Whitcomb’s car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger. Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension. Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding? Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from—but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her—a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change their lives forever. As the sexual tension between them builds, however, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns her host’s terrifying secret, there is nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and Michael may be the only one who can save her life. This is the first book that I’ve read by Syrie James. I’ve heard good things about her work and I was looking forward to reading Nocturne. I’m pleased to report that Nocturne is a satisfying slice of paranormal romance. Oddly enough, what stands out most about Nocturne to me is the fact that there are really only two characters in the entire novel, if you don’t count animals (which I don’t here because they’re regular animals not super awesome sidekicks like Kevin Hearne’s Oberon). It didn’t really strike me until towards the end of the novel but the book really is all about Nicole and Michael and their interactions. Thankfully, Nicole and Michael are good characters, so I didn’t mind that there were no secondary folks in the story. Michael does the tortured thing well, striving to avoid temptation and hide the fact that he’s a vampire, while Nicole is a sweet but guarded young woman. I was particularly fond of Nicole because she’s bright (aside from driving out in a snow storm) and charming. I like that it didn’t take her forever to figure out that Michael was a vampire, because I was worried that that aspect of the story would take over the book. She’s also a bit mysterious since there are things in her past she doesn’t talk about, though she tries very hard to get to know Michael. Michael was a little bit harder to get to know, probably because most of the book is told from Nicole’s point of view. He’s very clever, and it shows in the fact that he’s devised so many different ways of hiding his vampirism. What I didn’t like about them is the fact that they seemed a little too perfect for each other. Don’t get me wrong, I love romance stories and the fact that you’re typically on your way to a Happily Ever After when you pick up a book from the romance section. But I don’t think that the characters need to have the exact same set of interests. Some overlap is often necessary for the story to feel real but I didn’t like the fact that Nicole and Michael just happen to have the same hobbies: piano, gardening, reading. It made their story seem contrived, which was unfortunate since I really enjoyed watching them get to know one another. It’s impossible to talk about Nocturne without wanting to talk about the ending. To avoid spoilers, I’m not going to be explicit but I will say that I was surprised by the ending. It grounded the novel in a way I didn’t expect and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. So much of Nocturne fed into the romance formula that I was truly taken aback when things deviated, so much so that I kept flipping through thinking there had to be another chapter. But I do love that Syrie James took a chance and adding something less rote into the story, because it made the story so much stronger. Read an excerpt
Posted by
jenn
at
09:15
I started this feature back in 2010 and didn’t have time to maintain it after the Paranormal Spring Break with my promotion at work, my wedding and now my pregnancy, let’s just say life got in the way! Now that Jenn joined me though, it allows for more flexibility and Jenn will take control of the feature, as it used to be one of your favorites! Here’s a bit more about the concept, in case you don’t remember ^^ Discover your favorite authors in their natural habitat (!) and learn more about the man/woman, when they don’t have their author-faces (as opposed to poker-faces!) on. Each post will be unique and flavored to the author's personality. The post subject? Well the sky is the limit really! They might talk to us about their past time, where they like to hang out, what kind of music they listen to. Do they practice any sports? Any artistic talents? Show us their pets, neighbors or best friend. Like I said, sky is the limit, and each author will choose their very own subject! You can expect a new post within a few weeks and now is the perfect time to suggest authors you’d want to see featured. Just Fill the form below, and we will contact the author see if they are interested! Please remember, filling the form doesn’t guaranty your favorite author will be featured, because they may simply decline our invitation, but we will give it try =)
Posted by
Tynga
at
15:33
YAY! Ok I made the insane happy dance on Thursday when Kristin Cashore announced the official release date of Bitterblue. I LOVED Fire (my review) and Graceling (my review) and I feel like I’ve been awaiting Bitterblue forever! So I’m excited out of my mind right now lol US // UK Kristin said: Bitterblue will be released on May 1, 2012 in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It will be released on the same day in a few other countries/languages as well; I'll supply that information when I have it. The official Publisher’s Weekly announcement: The [US] cover to Kristin Cashore’s eagerly awaited third novel is royal blue -fitting since the title character has blue in her name and is the king’s daughter. But, oooh. What’s with those keys: one gold, one silver, one bronze? Dial will publish Bitterblue, a companion to Cashore’s bestsellers Graceling (Harcourt, 2008) and Fire (Dial, 2009) on May 1, 2012 but this first look at the cover ought to tantalize her many fans. The novel, which has an announced first printing of 200,000 copies and clocks in at a hefty 576 pages, picks up eight years after Graceling,with Bitterblue now 18 and the reigning queen of Monsea. Cashore says the story constitutes more of a companion than a strict sequel. Graceling fans, however, will likely be thrilled to learn that the heroine of that book – the different-colored-eyed Katsa – returns in Bitterblue, as does her lover, Po. Other characters from Graceling appear, too, most notably (and unavoidably, since he is Bitterblue’s father), the nefarious King Leck, the only character who appears in both Graceling and Fire. For Cashore, the completion of her third novel allows her to take a deep breath – of relief. “Fire was such an emotionally hard book for me to write that when I started Bitterblue I vowed to write something light and fun,” Cashore said. “I was well into it before I had the realization that if light and fun is what you’re after you probably shouldn’t have a main character whose father murdered her mother.” The only down side to all this excitement? My due date is May 2nd, so unless I’m lucky enough to score an ARC I might not get to read it right away =( Either way, I’m super excited and I CAN’T WAIT to get my hands on Bitterblue, and I will pre-order a UK copy as my copies of Fire & Graceling have UK covers to. Anyone from the UK would be sweet enough to pre-order for me? I’d pay you via paypal ^^ [tyngauf(a)gmail.com] While you wait, you might want to check the Study series by Maria V Snyder, I rushed through it this week and thought they have a lot of similarities =)
Posted by
Tynga
at
10:36
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward Books Stats: Genre: Paranormal Romance Paperback: 480 pages Publisher: Signet Release date: March 6th, 2007 Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #4 Reviewed by: Tynga Source: Personal Shelf | Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers. But fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him. Overtime, Butch O'Neil, human, once-cop, became the Brothers’ protégé and it’s now his time to shine in this novel. He lives with the Brothers, they pay for his clothes, his food and won’t let him fight with them: he feels like a well kept human pet, like a loser. On top of this, the woman he wants, the stunning Marissa, high class vampire, doesn’t want anything to do with him. But honestly, why would she? Butch decides to take matters in hands when he stumbles into a party of Lessers attacking a vampire civilian. Not everything went as expected though… Lover Revealed was a very exciting read and I really enjoyed it, even though Zhadist’s book remains my favorite. Butch isn’t one of my favorite male in the series but I liked to discover more about him. We learnt a lot about his past and his courage and determination shone. His human actions are often misinterpreted by Marissa and it spiced-up the plot. Marissa is a lovely bright female who’s unfairly shunned-out by the high society and she will fight hard to earn what she deserves. My favorite aspect of this novel was, by far, Vishious’ turmoil. He lost his ability to see the future and it drives him nuts. He is also hunted by recurring nightmares and he is very unstable. His relationship with Butch is also very special and I hope we’ll get to the bottom of things. I honestly can’t wait to read Vishious’ book! Even though Lover Revealed is my least favorite of the series, the book was really hard to put down due to high-running emotions and action-packed plot. What happened in this round will change all the rules and I’m really excited for what’s to come. Read an Excerpt
Posted by
Tynga
at
10:36
|