Blind Tiger by Rachel Vincent

Blind Tiger by Rachel Vincent

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
eBook: 356 pages
Publisher: Self-published
Release date: February 13, 2017

Series:  Wildcats #2

Source: 

Reviewed by: 

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Robyn Sheffield wants her life back.

As the only female stray in the US, she's had to deal with bloodlust, flashbacks, a lack of impulse control (which might not have anything to do with being a shifter), and weeks under house arrest for crimes she never meant to commit. But when she overhears the territorial council plotting to marry her off to an eligible tom? It's time for this chick to fly the coop.

Titus Alexander wants recognition.

He’s spent the past year carving his territory out of the Mississippi free zone, forming a community for strays exiled and forgotten by the US Prides. As the first stray Alpha, he’s sworn to bring the toms under his authority the rights, support, and respect that official confirmation from the council will bring. But then the council’s precious female stray sneaks into the free zone in the back of his car and demands sanctuary.

The council gives Titus a choice: send Robyn back and have his Pride acknowledged, or prepare for war. Citizenship for his men is within his grasp. So why is it so hard for him to let one rebellious tabby go?

Robyn has been on house arrest for what seems like eternity after she killed multiple shifters' murderers and now she's done. The first opportunity she has to escape presents itself in the form of a sexy stray and his unguarded Mercedes SUV. Robyn doesn't think of possible consequences (which is a pattern for her..) and dives into the car to hide and run away once she's in the free zone. Sexy Titus finds out though, and everything he is worked for is jeopardized by this young wild tabby.

I love Rachel Vincent, and I always recommend her Shifters series, but I must confess, while I enjoyed the Wildcats books, they are not as great as the Shifters series.

Robyn has a lot of potential, I like her spunk and how she fights for her ideas. BUT she comes off a bit childish and self-centered. She falls in love with Titus and decides to help him save his pack and all, but if she'd just taken her responsibility from the beginning, it would've been much easier. On the other hand, I like Titus. He is doing his best to be responsible, making the right decision but he also has a very passionate side I really appreciated.

I think one of the biggest elements that make me favor Shifters vs Wildcats is the action and the passion and the drive that was omnipresent in the Shifters series but cruelly absent in the Wildcats novels. Everything is about politics and what should or shouldn't be done. Lots of talking, and not much action. I really miss the down and dirty fights, the thrill of the chase, and the knock out suspense of not knowing if someone will die in the battle. I know Wildcats books take place in a time of 'peace' but I need to find that passion again! In the first book, Abby is more of a subdue female so I expected that from her, but Robyn is a firecracker so I was hoping I'd get more action and I was disappointed.

The intrigue was interesting though and I had a really strong opinion about what happened and who was the culprit (I won't go into details, don't want to give it away) and it turned out I was wrong. Which was an happy surprise. I liked how that particular mystery unfolded and I think it was very smart of Vincent to play it that way. On the other hand, The very conclusion, the way the characters dealt with the consequences seemed fake. I think Rachel felt like we should get somewhat of a happy ending but I just know the council wouldn't settle for that so I'm on the fence. *Tiny spoiler* I think Robyn should've gone back to the council and from there work out the details and consequences and that she'd have to work her way back to Titus in another book maybe.

I know my review isn't super positive and I did enjoy the book. It just didn't live up to my expectations. Will I read the third book? Yes, definitely. Would I recommend this series? If you love the Shifters series and want more of this world, yes. If you haven't read the Shifters series yet, then pick that one first!

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by Tynga at Friday, April 07, 2017

 Adult, Purchased, rachel vincent, Review, Self Published, Shifters, Urban Fantasy, werecats, Wildcats  Leave your mark

✎

Found by Evangeline Anderson

I read a few books from this series a couple years back and I'm really glad I decided to get back into it. I love a good science fiction novel and the way the author blends romance into her stories is wonderful. The love scenes are pretty erotic and not for the faint of heart but as a whole, the novel isn't just about the romance. There's an actual actual story that involves dangerous situations, multiple characters and many storylines.

The main storyline is about Lauren, a Florida native who was abducted by an evil alien race called the Scourge. It was prophesied by the AllFather, the leader of the Scourge, that she was the future of their dying race. Luckily, she was saved from a grave future of rape and torture by one of her captors, Xairn, whom she falls for romantically. At first, she attributes her feelings to a sort of Stockholm Syndrome but the more time she spends with Xairn, the stronger her feelings become. Xairn promises to keep Lauren safe but his duty doesn't come easily, especially when the AllFather still wants her. Also, Xairn feels he must protect her from himself and his dark sexual urges, so he represses his feelings, which annoys Lauren immensely.

They try to create a life together but Xairn's finds controlling his sexual urges difficult, especially with a very affectionate Lauren. The more Xairn shares about his past, the more Lauren realizes where his fears come from. Xairn's childhood was an abusive one which has shaped him into the cold warrior that he is. When the AllFather threatens someone he loves, the cold warrior facade might be the only thing that saves both of them.

The author made the right choice with Lauren. She could have made her the hapless female that is mentally scared by her abduction but instead Lauren has turned out to be a strong female lead. Xairn might be afraid of hurting her, but at this point, the only thing that could possibly hurt her is leaving. They've gone through so much together, including DNA modification, escaping the AllFather and a horrible market trade on a strange planet. I can't help but cheer for this couple, even if they are the most unlikely pair.

Space travel, psychic abilities, medical advances and alien technology are present in this novel, but the one thing I wish the author could have done is spent more time on is elaborating these aspects. Evangeline Anderson has created a wonderful and strange world and I can't wait to learn more about it and its remarkable inhabitants. Found is a compelling science fiction romance that is leading this series in a great direction.



 

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by Tynga at Monday, August 22, 2016

 aliens, Brides of the Kindred, Erotica, Evangeline Anderson, Purchased, Review, Romance, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published  Leave your mark

✎

The Claiming by Jayne Faith and Christine Castle

I was quite disappointed with this fourth and final book of the Sapient Salvation series. What started off as a good story in book one and two, turned into a mediocre and predictable ending. I felt rushed throughout the book and like I was being led nowhere.

The characters, while we see emotions control most of their actions, never mature or evolve. Maya remains the innocent and timid girl we met in the beginning. While the authors would have us believe she has grown into a fierce woman with her interest in BDSM, it all seems fake and forced. Maya's interest in whips and floggers are simply to please Lord Toric and I just can't see it. Maya is too much of a submissive herself to dominate Lord Toric, the way he needs to be dominated. If the roles were reverse, I think I would believe that so much more, but as it stands, it just doesn't feel authentic. We never really see much in terms of bed play since the book is aimed more for the young adult and new adult crowds, but in my opinion, what's the point in brining up BDSM if you shy away from vanilla sex?

The whole series has been about the Calistan return to Earthenfell. The prophecy says that the time is near, however, as Lord Toric begins the steps for the return, the High Priestess is suddenly against him. For someone who truly believes in the prophecy, Lord Toric is quick to dismiss the leader of his faith, the one who is supposed to guide him through the process. For an alien race who is so advanced technologically and intellectually, you would think faith would be secondary instead of ruling their actions and emotions. In Lord Toric's case, his love for Maya is more important than his faith and while he still follows the steps of the prophecy, he is quick to dismiss everything else about his faith. For a leader to reject almost everything in the divine books, you have to wonder how his subjects will react to this. Personally, I'm not a religious or spiritual person, but the way everything played out with the prophecy and the Calistan faith, it's not right. You can't pick and choose what you like and ignore what you don't like.

I'm glad the characters did get their happily ever after. Lord Toric and Maya love each other, and even though they seem like the oddest couple, it's nice that love can triumph through difficult times. As I said, I was disappointed with the conclusion of this series. I think I was expecting something bigger and grander but it's almost as if the authors simply took the easy way out. My expectations were too high, but I'm glad I got to finish the series and that everything ends positively.

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by Tynga at Monday, July 25, 2016

 Christine Castle, Faith, Fantasy amp; Magic, Jayne Faith, Prophecy, Purchased, Review, Sapient Salvation #4, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published  Leave your mark

✎

Hunted by Evangeline Anderson

I'm quite obsessed with this series. Honestly, it isn't great literary fiction but it is fun and entertaining to read when you're looking for a good romance book. Sci-fi romance is a guilty pleasure of mine and this second book of the series definitely delivers.

This book tell the story of Sophia and Sylvan. In this alternate reality, Earth is threatened by the Scourge, and evil alien race. Enter the Kindred, a warrior alien race that have sworn to protect Earth's inhabitants. On one condition: the Kindred females are very rare and so, the Kindred warriors need human brides in order to guarantee the survival of their race. This genetic exchange is mandatory for all unmated human females. For some, it's a dream come true. For Sophia, it's a nightmare.

Sophia has been scared to get close to anyone ever since she was attacked on her prom night. That horrible ordeal has followed her through adulthood, along with her fear of needles and pointy things. The worse possible thing for her would be to be claimed by a Blood Kindred. She probably wouldn't mind the Beast Kindred or the Twin Kindred, but luck has her being attracked to Sylvan, a Blood Kindred. A vampire-like sub-bread of the Kindred, Sylvan feels the urge to bite and bond Sophia to him forever. However, he knows Sophia is very afraid of him and his fangs so their relationship is a complicated one. Even more, Sophia is being hunted by the Scourge for some bizarre reason and Sylvan has sworn to protect her personally. That keeps them in close proximity for flames to burn and attraction to deepen. But still, they fight the bond between themselves, Sophia out of fear, and Sylvan out of honour.

Sylvan is your typical Alpha male hero and you couldn't ask for a better leading man. As for Sophia, she really got under my skin. Quite frankly, she's pathetic. Her fears are founded, but quite honestly, by now you would think she would have out-grown and tried to get over them. In my opinion, she's too weak, too sensitive and too tortured to be considered a good heroine.

This book is quite erotic at times but also has a good storyline. We're almost guaranteed a happily-ever-after but bumps along the way makes you doubt a good ending. If you can get over the tortured and teary-eyed heroine, this is a fantastic sci-fi romance. It has action, and evil antagonist and steamy love scenes. Great for the guilty pleasure shelf, however, not so great for feminism.

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by Tynga at Monday, June 27, 2016

 aliens, Brides of the Kindred, Evangeline Anderson, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, Review, Romance, sci-fi, Self Published  Leave your mark

✎

Reader Abduction by Eve Langlais

I've been hooked to this series, ever since I started reading it about a year ago. Curiously, I haven't read anything else by Eve Langlais, besides this series. I think it's the hot purple aliens that keep me coming back for more. This novella is the seventh in the series, and although it's not my favorite of the series, it was still a fun and enjoyable read.

Eve Langlais took a different approach with this story. Instead of your typical Alien Abduction, like in her past stories, her story actually opens at Romancing The Capital 2016, an actual romance book convention that took place a few weeks ago. The story is written from Brigitte's point of view, a romance reader who has helped Eve Langlais organize the convention. Little does Brigitte know, Eve has been in contact with real purple aliens in order to pawn off some of her readers as suitable mates to the purple mercenaries. I don't think I'm a big fan of this twist. Eve Langlais makes a personal cameo in the the book, along with some other romance writers who probably attended the convention (name dropping?). I find the whole concept a bit strange. I do find it fitting, however, since I personally attended Book Expo America, but there were no purple aliens there (not that I'm aware of), so it's very good timing.

Brigitte has been a huge fan on Eve Langlais' Alien Abduction series too, and when this purple hunk appears at RTC, she thinks it's all part of the show, a paid actor playing a good role. She soon realizes that she and 11 other single females are being abducted for real to be sold off as mates to purple aliens. I wish we could have gotten to know more about Brigitte and her alien, Phyr. The lack in character development makes the story go by fast but lack in detail. Your typical Eve Langlais banter between characters is definitely present, but I wish we could have gotten more of everything.

I wouldn't recommend this series based on this book alone. It's by far my least favorite of the series even though it was a fun and easy read. The characters were fun but lacked substance. The scenes were steamy by lacked emotion. I think, overall, story lacked information and detail. Even the sex scenes seemed rushed. If the author ever publishes an eighth book, I will definitely check it out but hopefully the author will go back to her original form.

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by Tynga at Monday, May 16, 2016

 Alien, Alien Abduction, Eve Langlais, Purchased, Review, Romance, Science Fiction, Self Published  Leave your mark

✎

The Divining by Jayne Faith and Christine Castle

I really enjoyed the first two books of this series, however, this third instalment was a little bit disappointing. I feel like this series started off strong, but now the authors are trying to drag it out, in order to come out with as many books as possible. Honestly, it almost feels like a serial, like novella length stories that are released a few month apart, with enough suspense to keep you hooked.

I really do like the main story of Maya, an Earthen woman who is fighting for her life in the ultimate battle of becoming one of Lord Toric's harem women. She never wanted this, but fate brought her to Calisto, an alien world who's inhabitants believe they will one day return to Earth, once a certain prophecy is fulfilled. The Calistians can only return to Earth once Calisto has defeated all of Earth's enemies. The Calistian beliefs in prophecy is a little bit far fetched and I was willing to ignore the weak religion that surrounded these people, however, the more I read, the more holes the religion seems to have. What's more, the story seems to have shifted away from Maya, and is more about the Priestess who will lead the Calistians back to Earth. I understand the Priestess may have a pivotal role in the Return, but I have a hard time relating to this character because of her religious ties. Maya and Lord Toric is what brought me back to this series, but besides their first scene together, there are very little scenes between the two. And when there is, it's disappointing and not as dramatic as before.

I'm also disappointed in Lord Toric. He has turned out to be a weak leader, believing in prayer in order to save Maya from a certain death, instead of taking action. He claims to love Maya, his dark angel, but he doesn't show it very well. Especially when he cheats on her by calling one of his harem women in order to satisfy his sexual urges. I know he's stressed and everything, but honestly, if he can't be faithful to Maya after a few days of having her in his bed, I don't think there's much hope for him.

Jeric, Lord Toric's brother, seems to have turned over a new leaf. This is one positive thing we can look forward to in the next book. Maya may have survived an execution attempt and the Tournament of Obligates, but I don't know if she'll be able to survive in Lord Toric's harem. She may have a few allies in the harem, but it seems everyone within its walls has a second agenda.

I can't say I enjoyed this book. Nothing much happened in terms of action so I have very little else to mention in this review. I'll probably end up reading the next book because at this point in the series, it almost feels likes an obligation. Based on this book alone, I wouldn't recommend this series. Hopefully the series, along with its characters, will redeem itself in the next and final book.



 

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by Tynga at Monday, March 07, 2016

 Alien, Christine Castle, Jayne Faith, Purchased, Review, Sapient Salvation, Science Fiction, Self Published, Space, War  1 Person left their mark

✎

The Awakening by Jayne Faith and Christine Castle

Jayne Faith and Christine Castle hooked me with their first book in this series. I think it's the cross between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor that makes things really exciting. I'm a big fan of The Hunger Games, but quite honestly, I hate the flakiness of The Bachelor. I think it's the terrifying idea of losing your life if you don't win the competition that makes things way more compelling than the fake TV show. In my experience, self-published books can be pretty hit and miss, but in this case, I really think the authors are on to something.

This book is so much more than a game of survival and a love story between the two main characters. It's also a story about two races coming together, despite their very different cultural views, and fighting for Earthfell's freedom. Maya is from Earthenfell and she is one of the Obligates fighting in the Tournament of the Offered. Toric is the Lord of Calisto and the Sacred Texts say that no Calistan can step foot on Earthenfell until the prophecy says so. The whole idea behind the Sacred Texts and the Calistan religion is a little bit confusing. I hope more is revealed in the upcoming book so that things may be clearer and complete. The authors may be holding back purposely, but either way, I'm sure more is to come.

The attraction between Toric and Maya is really sweet. I really hope we see their relationship grow, despite their differences. Toric's dark past and sexual needs shocked Maya but she's not that innocent anymore. The Tournament has hardened her and she's now ready to fight for her life, even if that means taking advantage of Toric's obvious infatuation with her. The newest challenge in the Tournament will be difficult for Maya, and I honestly didn't see this twist coming. I hate the fact the authors announced what the new challenge will be and ended the book on a cliffhanger. Since the next book might be coming out next month, I'm not too annoyed, but I'll still be waiting impatiently.

The rest of the characters add a lot of antagonism and mystery to the story. Akantha, the Mistress of Tournament, is a ruthless and jealous woman. Engaged to Lord Toric's brother, Jeric, she's jealous of Maya who seems to have enthralled both brothers. She's out to get Maya, and is willing to do whatever it takes for her to fail. Jeric is confused, and doesn't know his place anymore. As Toric's younger brother, he was once named heir when Toric was considered dead after being kidnapped for years. Now that Toric is back, he seems wandering without a path. I kind of feel sorry for him, even though I don't agree with some of the things he's done or said to Maya. Toric's mother is another player in the political game. We don't know much about her, and she hasn't really had a prominent role in the story yet, but I anticipate her having a bigger role in the coming book.

Overall, I think this was a decent sequel. I hate the cliffhanger we were left with, and quite honestly the book could have been a little longer. Many questions were answered, yet many more have arose. The series so many different genres, including romance, young adult, science fiction and paranormal that I'm sure it will please many reader. As a fan of all these genres, I think the authors have created a wonderful mix.

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by Tynga at Monday, February 08, 2016

 Alien, Christine Castle, future, Jayne Faith, Purchased, Review, Sapient Salvation, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎

The Selection by Christine Castle and Jayne Faith

The notion of a selection, where young adults are more or less given away like property, sounds a bit barbaric. We’ve seen it in the Hunger Games, and in another series with the same title as this one by Kiera Cass. All are similar in the sense that the powers that be host a competition. In the Hunger Games, they fight to the death for entertainment with one (supposedly) victor at the end. In Kiera Cass’ series, the winner ends up with prince charming. In this book however, it’s a little of both. The surviving winners ends up in the Lord’s employ while the rest end up…dead. The girl who wins ends up in the Lord’s harem, while the winning boy ends up as a servant for that same lord.

Although it feels as if this story has been told multiple times, I enjoyed this version very much. Not only is it sci-fi, but it does have a magical feel to it, with the prophesies and mystical themes.  I loved the idea of a race humans that abandoned Earth long ago that are now back to reclaim the planet, now called Earthenfell, while fighting an alien race. It took me while to understand the whole concept and the world the characters lived in but I loved how the writers slowly incorporated the necessary details as the story progressed. I thought it was very well written although I wish it could have been even more detailed.

Usually, I dislike female leads that are naive and fragile, but in Maya’s case, I think it was necessary. Her whole life she thought she would be safe from the selection since her community had preselected a girl that would be trained and prepared for the competition, to be the Obligate of Maya’s clan when the time came. However, because this preselected girl dies right before the bi-annual ceremony that would announce her as the next Obligate in the deadly game, Maya is randomly selected instead. Maya has no clue what the selection really entails. As she mourns her fate with her family and friends during her last night on Earthenfell, I believe she comes to terms with her possible fate. “An Obligate entering the competition with no training was walking into almost certain death (loc 215).” However, once in the competition, Maya proves to everyone that she might just have what it takes in order to survive the physical and mind games they are putting her through.

When we first learn of Lord Toric through Maya’s point of view, he’s made out to be an evil and sadistic leader. However, the more we learn, the more we see the humanity in him. He has a dark past which has forged him into the man he is, and we slowly realize that he’s not the real enemy. Actually, he singles out Maya the first time he sees her and she becomes his obvious favourite. I love the rapport they build. It’s simple and modest, and Toric does his best not the intimidate the shy and innocent Maya.

One of my critics would be the length of the book. Not only does the story finish on a cliffhanger,  but I find the book was too short. It’s almost as if the writers purposely cut the story in order to make it fit into a trilogy. The ending makes you want more so if their goal was to leave me wanting more, they certainly achieved it in the most evil of ways. I definitely plan on reading the next book, however the release date has yet to be announced.

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by Tynga at Monday, December 07, 2015

 aliens, Christine Castle, Dystopian, future, giveaway, Jayne Faith, Review, Sapient Salvation, Science Fiction, Self Published, Space, Xpresso Book Tours, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Accidental Abduction by Eve Langlais

I wasn't sure if I should review this book for the blog or not, but honestly, since I got hooked in the first few minutes, I decided it might be worth sharing. For a sci-fi romance, it's highly entertaining and has so many laugh out loud moments. The characters are very enjoyable with their intense chemistry and snappy conversations.

It all begins with Megan about to drown in the open water, who was left there by her boyfriend, planning to kill her for her money. At first, she thought the bright light was heaven calling her, but then she quickly realized that she was being abducted by an alien ship, along with many fish and marine life. Actually, Megan doesn't seem too worried about being abducted. In her place, I guess I wouldn't be either since the only other option would be death. But to her benefit, her open mind and accepting personality, helps her survive something that could have been really traumatic for someone else. I love her initial description of her captor as "Han Solo on crack" and her multiple one-liners.

It wasn't Tren's intention to abduct the "barbaric female" from planet Earth. As an ex-mercenary turned acquisition specialist, his intention was to acquire some of Earth's marine life since the planet's barbarians were killing off some of their species with their destructive ways. At first, he decides to sell her off in the first available auction but her snarky mouth and curvy body makes him want to keep her all for himself.

Their sexual chemistry is definitely palatable. Tren might have purple skin and a few different body parts but he and Megan prove that their species are completely compatible. Both physically and emotionally. It doesn't take time for Tren to sample what Megan has to offer (it's not his fault since she's the one always bringing it up). Apparently all it takes is a few sips of a very potent wine to get things started.

It's only when Megan is abducted by someone else that Tren realizes he truly has some feelings for his barbaric human. Despite their differences, they do fit as a couple. Their intense chemistry and entertaining banter only proves their compatibility. Even though the story is primarily an erotic romance, it still has enough sci-fi elements and a good storyline to satisfy my need for a good story to go along with the rest. Literary wise, it's nothing amazing but overall, the novella length story was so  entertaining, I started reading the second book of the series immediately. Eve Langlais is definitely on to something with her purple aliens because they are definitely sexy and skilled (as warriors and lovers).

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by Tynga at Monday, November 16, 2015

 abudction, Alien Abduction, aliens, erotic, Eve Langlais, Purchased, Review, Romance, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published  4 People left their mark

✎

Killshot by Aria Michaels

If you're looking for a book that has it all, this is it.  It's YA, which I love, and there's a mystery for the teens to solve and overcome.  There's almost a feeling of a quest of sorts, and a definite dystopian feel.  While you won't love every character the same way, you'll definitely agree that they are very real and very brave.

This is one of those books that I loved reading so much, I'm not sure I can do it justice in this review!  It's so well done, the pages flew by despite the length.  (474 pages)  The story focuses around Liv, a 17-year-old girl who has recently lost her parents and is in a separate foster home from her little brother.  Her life went from carefree high school students to seriously focused young adult.  Everything she does is focused on earning enough money to support herself and her little brother once she turns 18.  That is, until the night that she accepts an invite from her foster sister to a rooftop viewing party for a solar flare.

Just one of the many things Aria Michaels does really well is the way that she introduces characters.  First we meet Liv, and see a little of her backstory through her memories.  Then we meet her foster sister, Riley, when she comes to wake up Liv for school.  Each character that is introduced is introduced in a really natural way, and we're never bombarded with a whole room full of new characters at once.  I love that chance for character development!  Even though we end up with a group of about 10 teens surviving together, I never had to flip back and forth to try to remember who was who.  Also, the cast of characters was diverse without feeling forced.  There were multiple sexualities and ethnicities represented, but none of it was thrown in our faces, and none were exaggerated into stereotypes.  For example, there's a Black girl, but she's not ultra-sassy or ratchet or anything.  She's cool, and goes with the flow.  In fact, the reader knows Falisha for about two chapters before it's even mentioned that she's Black.  Michaels even throws together different religious belief systems in her characters without ever sounding preachy!  I couldn't tell you if the author herself is Christian or not.  (Personally, I can usually guess the author's belief system if belief is mentioned at all in a book.  Very impressed that it wasn't obvious in this one.)  Not only were the characters very real and introduced in such an awesome way, they also show great growth throughout the book.  This goes hand-in-hand with none of them being stereotypes, I guess, but it's still worth mentioning.

(A tiny warning:  I'd give this to older teens.  The characters don't shy away from occasional heavy-handed language.  But that just makes them more real!  It's not overdone.)

The characters felt natural and were introduced in a smooth way, and the plot unfolds in the same way.  In the whole book, there wasn't a single period when I was bored and skimming, and there also weren't any areas where the plot unfolded too quickly.  You know how sometimes you're reading and you have to stop and say, "ok, what just happened??  That came out of nowhere!"  None of that in Killshot.  And that's a big compliment!  We're talking about a solar flare that's decimated society, and I never felt confused or overwhelmed or out of my ability to grasp the situation.  Oh, and I also loved how even though the characters are teens, I never found myself seriously disagreeing with decisions that they made.  They weren't too mature for belief, but they also weren't stupid.  Awesome!

Only two tiny complaints:  I read Killshot as an eARC, and there was a serious lack of conjunctions in it.  This really might just be because I read a pre-edited version of the book.  Unfortunately, I found it a little distracting, especially when the characters were in conversation.  Everyone says "I'm" instead of "I am" when talking!  Also, the ending.  Michaels, if you're reading this, I'm going to need the sequel ASAP.  Like, yesterday.  I'm way too invested in these characters for that exciting of an ending!  I need more!

While the length might be off-putting to some, the story is very much worth it.  Exciting without being overwhelming, with characters you'll get attached to.  Highly, highly recommended!

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by Tynga at Thursday, October 08, 2015

 Aria Michaels, Dystopian, Icarus Series, Publisher, Review, Self Published, solar flare, Survival Stories, YA, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Claimed by Evangeline Anderson

To find that yourself in a position to aid in the understanding between your own culture and another can have its own reward. If it comes with a price equal to or less than your own gain, the rewards should be even greater. Then why does Olivia balk at being a part of a bridge between two cultures when she has so much to gain? Well, it might be the price of only rarely seeing her family, to include her fraternal twin sister. It may also be the other culture, who is from another world. An even greater disincentive might be she is expected to be not so much an ambassador, but a bride to a rather large warrior.

This is familiar, though not overly abused, story of two complete different people reluctantly bound by fate. We get to discover an alien race and culture alongside a woman who was thrust into it without warning. This story has many of the common pitfalls in store for Olivia though, many are approached uniquely enough to make them feel newer. We also get to see and feel the personal struggles of some of our characters as events unfold and easier and safer routes seem to appear but, those opportunities often run counter the characters beliefs, convictions or goals.

The main characters of Olivia, her sister Sophia and Baird and his brother inhabit most of the scenes and so, are the most developed in the book. As time goes on, through flashback we are given glimpses into their lives. These flashbacks start to answer many question they (and we) have of the others. Some of the exposition felt a little uneven to me. Much of what was given up in the first few chapters could have been teased out throughout the book to add to the drama.

This book has a significance I had not expected. I am accustomed to books with some steamy love scenes that include frank descriptions of sex. What I did not expect from this book was how frank and how often the subject was brought up. The phrases run from the somewhat clinical to euphemistic to plain vulgar. Now, I’m no prude and I offer this story, Kryptische, as proof. It was written by the author as a companion piece to my last year’s Camp NaNoWriMo novel. When I read it, I thought it wasn’t too bad even though my novel is much tamer. Point being, I can not only endure but enjoy a well-crafted sex scene. These came off tepid to me because of the constant vulgarity. It’s likely a matter of taste or maybe I’m just that jaded.

Claimed is an entertaining book with a very intriguing premise. The idea of two very divergent races with needs the other can fulfill if they can work past their differences is a timely tale no matter when it is told. This is not one for anybody younger than 18 and get a definite X rating for language and sexual content.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, July 01, 2015

 Brides of the Kindred, Evangeline Anderson, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, Self Published, Space  3 People left their mark

✎

The Fire Seer and Her Quradum by Amy Raby

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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by Tynga at Friday, March 27, 2015

 Adult, Amy Raby, Author, Coalition of Mages, Fantasy amp; Magic, Magic, Review, Self Published  Leave your mark

✎

Lion's Share by Rachel Vincent

Let me start this review by saying, FINALLY! I've been awaiting another Shifters book for so long, and it's finally here! For those who don't know, Lion's Share is the first book in a new spin-off series. The original series, Shifters, was Rachel's first published series and it was really awesome. This original series featured Faythe, Marc and Jace and from what I gathered, this new series will feature a different couple each novel, following the traditional paranormal romance series (Shifters was more Urban Fantasy). You don't NEED to read the Shifter's books to read Lion's Share, but I strongly suggest it. It will allow you to really grasp the nature and laws of the Shifters, Jace & Abby's pasts and honestly, it's heart-poundingly good, so why skip it?

Jace is everything a girl could hope for. He is swoon worthy, powerful & loyal. I was sooo very happy to learn this book would feature him, because let's be honest, he had more then his share of trouble, and unfortunately, he gets even more this time around. At least, he now got the girl for his trouble haha. Abby was a traumatized girl who's grown into a confident woman and I loved that change in her. She definitely needs to learn some self-control, but it makes for some interesting scenes!  I really loved the two of them together, their chemistry and their fights.

The plot was action-packed and I was totally hooked even though the intrigue was very predictable. I wished Rachel didn't remind us every other page that Abby was hiding something because I figured it all out pretty quickly. It did not hamper my enjoyment of the novel so no harm done.

The conclusion was a killer though! I DID NOT expect that! I had a  couple of possible scenarios in mind, and it wasn't one of them! I would've paid good money to see the face of all those stuck-up alphas at the end and I can't wait to see how the series will evolve from there.

Rachel Vincent is self-publishing this series because no publisher wished to purchase the rights because it had been too long since the last Shifters book. Because of that, the very existence of future books depends on the sale of Lion's Share so I URGE you to purchase this amazing novel and encourage her. I really really hope there will be more novel in the series and I wonder which couple will be next!

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by Tynga at Friday, March 20, 2015

 Adult, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, rachel vincent, Review, Self Published, Shifters, Urban Fantasy, werecats, Wildcats  4 People left their mark

✎

Hunt by Rachel Vincent

I am a huge fan of the Shifters series by Rachel Vincent, and I was super sad when she announced, a couple of years ago, that Alpha was the last book. Hunt was released as part of the Chicks Kick Butt anthology and even though I bought the book I hadn't come around to read it yet. In October, Rachel announced that she's trying her hand at self publishing!!! She decided to start a spin-off series of the Shifters world, starting with a story about Jace and Abby. To do so, she decided to revamp the original Hunt story a bit, and release it on Amazon. Now that you have the back story... here's my review!

Abby was a fragile little thing in Shifters, due to a big trauma and it was nice to see her stand up for herself in this novella. The story takes place a couple of years later and Abby live on Jace's territory. He is now Alpha of his own area. We don't see much of Jace in this story, but I love this man to death so I'm super thrilled of this new development.

The story arc is really short with only 49 pages but I still had this thrill I loved so much when reading past Shifters books, so I'm sure fans won't be disappointed.

The end is promising a tumultuous relationship between the two protagonists and I can't wait for the first book of the new series, Lion's Share, to release! Rachel talking was about a late December 2014 release and as of now (I'm writing this on December 23rd) there's still no updates.

I don't know how necessary it would be to read the Shifters' books to understand this new series, but really, you SHOULD read the Shifters series anyway, because it's just so damn good. One of my favorite in fact!



 

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by Tynga at Friday, January 09, 2015

 novella, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, rachel vincent, Review, Self Published, shapeshifters, Shifters, Urban Fantasy  8 People left their mark

✎

Healer's Touch by Amy Raby

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

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

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

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

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

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

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by Tynga at Friday, December 05, 2014

 Amy Raby, Author, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, Healer, Hearts and Thrones, Magic, Review, Self Published  Leave your mark

✎

Desert Bound by Elizabeth Hunter

In the middle of nowhere, there is a small town with a big secret.  They work hard to keep this secret from getting out to the rest of the world.  The death of a local man recently returned to Cambio Springs brings about not only the concern of a killer in their midst but, the fact that many inhabitants aren’t always human may become more widely known.  This gives Dr. Teodora “Ted” Vasquez and Alex McCann more to deal with while also tending to family problems and their on again/off again romance.

This story has the elements that could make for a very good story.  Romance, paranormal and murder mystery in a small town. For me, it’s all about the story telling and this book did that well.  I liked the way the story progressed over all.  It moves much as you might expect a mystery/romance to without being predictable.  There are just enough red herrings and false trails to make figuring out the answer not so easy.  I was introduced to a world that includes not just shapeshifters but, a small town of them.  My only concern there was there were many places where I thought it slowed down too much.  Some of the conversations felt a bit repetitive or better handled through narrative.  Another exciting or action scene could have brought the pace back up and broken up some of the repetition.  Of course, that could be just a matter of preference.  I’ve always gravitated to the books that have big sword fights between romantic or quiet scenes.

Speaking of romantic scenes, this books has a few.  I don’t want to give too much away but, there are a few occasions of romance and the making of love in this book.  Elizabeth Hunter brings us these scenes without resorting to overly crude language or vulgar depictions. This makes the scenes descriptive yet, relatively mild. When I selected this book, I did not realize it was the second in the Cambio Spring series.  When I finished, I was surprised to find out there was a book before this one.  To me, that shows skill in storytelling.  It’s a rare thing when a book in the middle of a series can stand on its own.

Desert Bound definitely puts a twist on the murder mystery/romance genres by adding shapeshifting to the mix. This definitely one for the paranormal romance fans out there.  If you also like detective/mystery type stories, as I do, you may find this entertaining as well.  Just be aware that this can get a bit more ‘R’ than ‘PG-13’ in some places.



 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 26, 2014

 Cambio Springs, desert, Elizabeth Hunter, hunter, Love amp; Romance, Review, Self Published, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

✎

All In by Amanda Carlson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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by Tynga at Friday, November 21, 2014

 Amanda Carlson, Author, Paranormal Romance, Review, Self Published, shapeshifters, Sin City Collectors, Succubus  Leave your mark

✎

Repossessed by Shawntelle Madison

When I saw REPOSSESSED on Netgalley, I was quite excited. After all, I've really loved the Coveted books so far. (You can see my thoughts on the first two books here and here). But REPOSSESSED didn't have the same magic as COVETED or KEPT, unfortunately. In fact, I had to force myself to complete it, which was really disappointing.

First, let's accentuate the positive to start: I love that Madison features an Asian main character. Rob is Korean American and I can't remember the last time that I read a book with an Asian lead. (No, wait, it was THE IMMORTAL RULES. :) But I'm still stymied about an Asian hero.) I really appreciate racial diversity in books, especially since it's unfortunately rare.

Another good point is the world. REPOSSESSED is set in the Coveted world but it doesn't involve any werewolves. Instead, it focuses on witches and warlocks. According to the fore matter, Madison wrote REPOSSESSED before COVETED and this is how she started establishing the Coveted world; there's really not much overlap since REPOSSESSED focuses on a completely separate area (likely also because her publisher owns the rights to the Coveted characters). In some ways, this made the book feel less well defined but I did enjoy exploring how magic works in the Coveted universe, with differences between warlocks and wizards, etc.

My big problem with this novel is that I didn't connect with the characters. I liked them okay and I felt bad for Tessa and her money troubles but I wasn't able to invest in their relationship or them as individuals. It's not that they were one-dimensional or poorly written; there was just something about the two of them that didn't click. I know it's a vague criticism and I wish I could be more specific about what left me so neutral but it's hard to describe something that doesn't really elicit a strong feeling one way or the other.  And in some ways, I think that's even worse because strong stories make feel, positively or negatively, and that truly was lacking for me.

REPOSSESSED is an okay book. It's not essential reading if you're following the Coveted storyline and there are far stronger examples of Madison's writing out there. Sad to say, but my suggestion would be to pass on this particular novel and invest your money and/or time in one of her other series.

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by Tynga at Monday, October 13, 2014

 Adult, Netgalley, Review, Self Published, Shawntelle Madison, Urban Fantasy, Warlock Repo Man Chronicles, Witch  Leave your mark

✎

The Fire Seer by Amy Raby

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

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

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

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

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

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

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by Tynga at Friday, September 05, 2014

 Adult, Amy Raby, Author, Coalition of Mages, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, High Fantasy, Historical, Magic, Review, Self Published  2 People left their mark

✎

Who Needs Enemies by Keri Arthur

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

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

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

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

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by Tynga at Monday, September 01, 2014

 Adult, Author, Harry Phillecky PI, Keri Arthur, Review, Self Published, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

✎