Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall

In DARKNESS RISES, Dianne Duvall introduces to a couple of really interesting new characters: Krysta and her brother Sean. Krysta is a gifted one who knows nothing about the Immortal Guardians. She's been hunting vampires on her own for six years, after her husband was murdered and she was left for dead by a vampire. Krysta's ability to see auras makes her better able to fight vampires, something her brother can't do. But Sean has the ability to heal so he spends his evenings healing Krysta after her battles. It's an existence that can only end one way, until Krysta catches Étienne's eye during a battle. Étienne is immediately drawn to Krysta and Krysta to Étienne, though she hates herself for being attracted to a "vampire". She learns the truth when Étienne saves her from a military unit that was trying to apprehend him and she and Sean are introduced to the world of the Immortal Guardians.

I really enjoyed these new developments. This is a great way to grow the series, introducing new gifted ones and a renewed military threat. Krysta and Sean are great additions to the Immortal Guardians network/family, and Duvall plants some very interesting seeds for future novels with this renewed military effort to capture and study an Immortal Guardian. I can't say too much about it since it would be a major spoiler but I will say that these developments have me even more excited about this series.

We also get to know Zach, Seth's fellow angel, a lot better. He's so different from Seth but I found him to be very interesting. His relationship with Ami is adorable and Duvall seems to be getting ready to hook him up with one of the Immortal Guardians, which will hopefully happen sooner rather than later, so that I can get more of him.

DARKNESS RISES is a great paranormal romance and a strong entry in the Immortal Guardians series. Duvall's initial story arc wrapped up in the last novel but she's created some very intriguing possibilities this time around, which has renewed my enthusiasm for this series. This is one PNR series I would recommend to anyone who appreciates great characters, continued story arcs, and passionate romance. For the full picture, you should start with DARKNESS DAWNS but you could probably pick up DARKNESS RISES with little difficulty.

Read an excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Dianne Duvall, Immortal Guardians, Kensington, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Vampire  2 People left their mark

The Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan

Let me start off by saying that this series is fast becoming a favorite of mine. This sequel has surpassed my expectations with all its twists and turn. When I thought things couldn’t get any crazier, they did. Personally, I think if a book has the ability to surprise me like this one did, the author must be doing something right. Add to the fact that it’s well written, I would definitely recommend the book to any fans of the genre.

Violet, or V to her friends, is the main character and narrator of the story. As the protagonist in a young adult book, she’s definitely up there will all the great strong female characters we’ve seen over the years. She might be a little naive about some aspects of the world, and she does have her little moments of insecurity, but when it comes to kicking butt, she can totally keep up. There aren’t as many fight/action scenes in this book because it concentrates a little more on story building compared to book 1, but it really was thrilling. The slow build up in the relationship between V and Ryn couldn’t have been done any better and I’m really curious to see where it will go. It seemed inevitable that the two characters would end up liking each other, but I love the way the author kept the suspense by not pushing things too fast.

There are so many surprises in THE FAERIE PRINCE that I can’t really list them all. Plus, if I were to list them all, it would be major spoilers and that’s not my intention. One thing I really didn’t expect is the story behind Violet’s father’s death. I almost didn’t believe it at first and I still question it, after learning the truth. I think knowing the truth will change V’s perspective on life and will definitely impact the development of the series.

I think I mentioned it in my review of book 1, but it’s hard to believe that this series is self-published. Personally, I find it’s so well written that it could have been published by any of the major publishers. I’ve been looking at the covers because they reminded me of a series, but I just couldn’t think of which one. It finally hit me that visually they look like Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. They are very similar, and I think fans of one series, will definitely enjoy the other. The esthetics of the Creepy Hollow covers are very pleasing and initially, it’s one of the first things that grabbed my attention.

If it weren’t enough that the story and the characters are original, the scenery and the faerie world illustrated in the book will sweep you off your feet. I mean, not only does the book have pegasi(!), it’s the little things that amaze me like, the ambers that replace the smart phones of our world and the way the characters travel by faerie paths. And Filigree! Violet’s “pet” is a shape-changing being that I would love to have as my own. One moment he’ll be a pig, literally pigging out, then he’ll curl up on Violets lap as a cat. It would be wonderful to have a pet that changes shape according to its mood and its owner’s mood.

This book was flipping amazing and I can’t wait to get to book 3! If you haven’t already checked out this series, I highly recommend that you do. Inexpensive as eBooks, they are definitely worth the read.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:24

 Author, Creepy Hollow, Faeries, Magic, pagasus, Paranormal, Rachel Morgan, Review, Self Published, young adult  7 People left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [106]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

——————

 

Two books to share with you lovelies this week from me! Most excitingly, The One by Kiera Cass came out! YAY! It's not even as though this is some heart-wrenching or adrenaline-pumping series that totally warrants the amount of excitement I have when new installments come out. I'm not even entirely sure I can put into words what it is about the series that always has me all up in emotional knots, but all I know is, I'm okay with it. And I have the final book in the series now, and I AM SO HAPPY.

Also picked up Mystic City by Theo Lawrence. I think I used to own this one and it got lost in one of many moves the last couple years before I got a chance to read it. Now that there's a bunch of buzz out there about the next book in this series coming out soon, I find myself more inclined to read the first book. I always do that. Do you?

The One by Kiera Cass (Goodreads link)

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence (Goodreads link)

What did you add to your shelves this week?

[inlinkz_linkup id=402977]

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 23:00

 Meme, Stacking The Shelves  24 People left their mark

The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead

Justin & Mae's take on religion has been drastically changed in Gameboard of the Gods and the stakes are even higher in The Immortal Crown. The Gods are having an even stronger impact on the actions of both our heroes and it will lead them to Arcadia, a country at war with the RUNA. Justin & Mae will find themselves knee deep in political and religious drama and they will commit to their respective gods in ways we (and they) never imagined.

I am a huge fan of Richelle Mead and despite Age of X being my least favorite of all of her series, I truly enjoyed this second installment in the Age of X series. The science fiction structure isn't usually my cup of tea, and I struggled when reading the first novel, but this time around I found myself in known territory thus appreciating the ride that much more.

I think the main reason I like this series, as opposed to loving her other series, is because Mae is very stoic emotionally and I prefer demonstrative and passionate characters. In TIC though, she really gets out of her shell, takes risks, and her relationship with Justin really took a different turn which I appreciated. Justin is as lovable as ever and this sweet talker will take big risks for the beautiful Preatorian, which allowed him a special spot in my heart.

When I reviewed GotG I complained about the uselessness of Teresa and even though she has a more important role this time, I still don't feel she is important enough to the main plot line to deserve her own point of view. Her actions in this installment will have an impact in the second novel, I'm sure, but I can't bring myself to care for her, or her actions.

The main plot line was truly thrilling and I enjoyed discovering the oppressive Arcadia. The progression  of the religious aspect was phenomenal and engrossing. I couldn't believe both characters got so involved with their respective deity. The troubles they get themselves in - and out - of were tremendous! I also loved that the subplot about Mae's niece progressed.

The conclusion, especially in Mae's case, left me simply flabbergasted. What happened will be a game changer and I can't wait to see what will come out of this. I also keep my finger crossed for the unstable relationship between Mae and Justin.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:56

 Age of X, Dutton, Edelweiss, Gods, Paranormal, Penguin, Review, Richelle Mead, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction  6 People left their mark

Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot

This is my favorite book so far in the series. It took Suze's ability to mediate and brought it to an entirely new level because this was all angry ghosts. And they're not your typical angry ghosts, they're the angry ghosts from Jesse's past. Yup, you heard me, the main focus of this book is Jesse and his death and his past and I am one very happy reader despite the fact that this book was, at one point, emotionally traumatizing to me. I could not have asked for a more delicious reveal to his story (though I already suspected most of it) but the modern day plot twists and the revelations of the past were superb. Just wow, I am very happy with this one and I think it's perfection. If I had to describe it in one word it would be "epic."

What I found to be most interesting about this book was the introduction of a new mediator, Jack, who is only a young boy. Jack is, well, adorable. He's spent his entire life being scared of ghosts because nobody saw what he could see and he was constantly in and out of therapy because of this. And then Suze came along and realized what he was while babysitting him. She pretty much changed the poor kid's life and helped him out greatly by explaining things to him and helping him. Unfortunately, this made him a very young and impressionable individual that could easily be manipulated. And, boy, was he manipulated by other evil forces. With Jack came his older brother, Paul, who I hope to never meet again. Seriously, that guy has way too many unanswerable questions and he deserves to have the word "creep" branded all over his body. It's a shame that the pretty ones are never pretty on the inside too.

I don't want to elaborate on the plot too much with this one because it was taken in so many different directions. There is Jesse and Jesse's past and Jesse's present and Jesse's unknown future. There's his dead body, there's his enemies and his friends. There's people trying unravel his mystery that are dropping like flies and a mystery force that is out to ruin Suze's life by turning her beloved organic orange juice into bugs. It's all rather supernaturally traumatizing and it truly is an emotional roller coaster.

There was a point in this book where I put it down and took to twitter to scream at Gillian and Christina for making me read this because my heart was shattered on the floor. I was looking at it while my cat decided to sit on it. It was just that bad. I couldn't bring myself to read on because this book elicited such an intensely sad emotion from me. But I was forced to read on because Meg Cabot brings the fluff and I'm thankful I did because this one was a doozy. Suze went places that she never fathomed she could go and Father Dominic, our lovely priest mediator, even accepted the fact that exorcisms and kicking butt is sometimes the way to go! Hold the phones and stop the presses! That is a miracle within itself!

All in all, the best book yet. With two more books to go, I hope that this series continues to be this awesome because Cabot seriously took this one to an entirely new level. I am fangirling and screaming and crying and laughing. I'm doing everything simply because Cabot has created characters that I'm so attached to I can't bear to see them hurt and I just want to see them triumph. Now...onto book five to see them triumph once again!

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Avon Books, Fantasy, ghosts, Gifted, Harper Collins, Meg Cabot, Review, The Mediator, young adult  4 People left their mark

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

The Last Policeman is a clever blend of mystery and science fiction elements and this is one of the strangest novels I've read in a while. Though The Last Policeman is a hybrid of many genres, it works so well and this is an absolute must-read. I can definitely see why this book has received so much acclaim and it deserves so much more hype!

The world is going to end because of an asteroid that is scheduled to hit Earth in 6 months and the chances of survival are non-existent. Hank Palace decides to spend his last 6 months on Earth investigating a chain of suicides and deaths that have occurred in his small "Hanger Town".  So many people have already hung themselves, so it should be no big deal when Palace finds the body of Peter Zell in a McDonalds bathroom. All the signs say that Zell committed suicide, but Palace has this gut feeling that there's more to this case. While the rest of the world decides to prepare until the end, Palace is determined to solve this case.

Hank Palace is an enigmatic character I loved to read about and his character is almost as much of a mystery as Peter Zell's suicide. Why does Palace feel the need to solve this suicide? Why is he so determined? I loved Hank's fierce determination and how he continued to pursue this case even when all of his colleagues claimed that the case was a dead end. Hank is a bit of an introverted character and I truly felt for him and his situation because I felt a deep connection with him. It's extremely easy to root for Hank Palace and I loved how he doesn't conform into society's standard of what a hero is.

The Last Policeman is an excellent mystery with a noir-like feel and yet, it defies so many mystery tropes. The mystery in this novel is filled with twists and turns and I never figured out who the killer in this book was which is a testament to Winters's talent. I usually am an expert at figuring how who the killer is in mysteries novels, but Winters managed to stump me in The Last Policeman. This is an extremely well-written, cinematic mystery that will captivate mystery fans and sci-fi fans alike.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:24

 Ben H Winters, Dystopian, Mystery, Publisher, Quirk Books, Review, Science Fiction, The Last Policeman  Leave your mark

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Paige Tyler has created a very sexy adventure in HER PERFECT MATE. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did -- Tyler has a fantastic sense of pacing and the book kept getting more intense and more interesting.

The two main characters, Landon and Ivy, have a really strong romantic connection and, after some initial unease (mostly on Ivy's part), they build a very supportive and trusting professional relationship as well. I loved that Landon has major respect for Ivy's abilities and is willing to work with her even though her abilities -- her very existence -- are a complete surprise. Landon's forced to face a whole new reality but it does it with aplomb and an open mind, two things that Ivy wasn't expecting. It was a refreshing change from the "little lady" attitude that we see in some paranormal romances featuring strong male leads; this was just one of the pleasant surprises in HER PERFECT MATE.

The worldbuilding in  HER PERFECT MATE is also well done. The X-Ops series is a closed world with a supersoldier vibe to it since shifters hide from the general populace but have been recruited as part of a crimefighting task force. The shifters aren't trusted by all of their human co-workers, including their partners sometimes, which makes for a tense working environment, particularly for Ivy, who had a would-be rapist and a chauvinist as partners before Landon was assigned to the unit.

As you would expect, there are some large action sequences in HER PERFECT MATE. There are well-written and engaging. Tyler has a nice balance between action and romance in this novel, though there are aspects of the plot that were a bit predictable. This may just be me and my obsession with these types of stories, however, so perhaps you'll be surprised by some of the big moments in the story. ;) I want to stress, though, that I truly enjoyed HER PERFECT MATE, even though some of the moments are not unique to this world.

If you're looking for an extremely steamy romance with a good helping of adventure, you should try HER PERFECT MATE. I think you'll enjoy Tyler's voice and the world and characters she has developed. I, for one, am glad I gave this series a shot and look forward to the next offering in the X-Ops world.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Netgalley, Paige Tyler, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shifter, Sourcebooks, X-Ops  9 People left their mark

Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward

To be quite honest with you, I have some mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, I've been a fan of the series for so long now, that it's nice to see the characters again and to read about what's going on with their lives and their romantic relationships. On the other hand, I found some parts of the story were so repetitive that it felt like some hundred pages was saying the same as the hundred before. Needless to say, it felt like the story dragged on, and maybe it was done on purpose to show the lapse of time, but frankly, I got bored because it felt like the story was never ending.

It's the main romantic story line that feels repetitive, the one between Torh and No'One. Torh lost his shellan (mate) only a while before this novel began and it has taken him a long time to simply get back on his feet, let alone even think about getting intimate with someone else. No'One, a female of worth, has a second chance at life and believes this second chance should be spent serving others, regardless of her past. So when they are thrown together and they must face their feelings for one another, things get difficult because of Torh's mixed feelings about moving on, and No'One vulnerability because of the fact that she was raped when she was a lot younger and has never looked at a male in a romantic way. It felt like J.R. Ward was tiptoeing around their feelings just a bit too much and it felt like an endless cycle of "I want to, no I don't/can't..." Don't get me wrong, their story really is interesting but it dragged on...

One thing I'm usually not fond of is a switch in point of views because it more or less puts the main story on hold, but in this case, I really didn't mind. Especially because we got to read more about John and Xhex, who despite all odds were mated in the previous book. I love the fact that we see what happens after the supposed happily ever after and it just so happens it's not happily ever after. We also see a bit of the Quinn/Blay story which I can't wait for and is coming up in book #11.

LOVER REBORN made me realized that these brothers really are vampires. I mean, I knew they were vampires but since J.R. Ward has modified the lore on vampires in this series to the point of being really original, sometimes it's hard to remember these brothers have fangs. However, in this book, with all the blood feedings, it really hit me on how much they depend on blood to survive. The ongoing war between the Brothers and the lessers is the main reason for the blood feedings, and even if there is quite a number of fight scenes, it's hard to determine who the antagonist really is. The Brothers also have to deal with The Band of Bastards, a group of vampires that want to more or less replace the Brotherhood. It's interesting to read more about these "bastards" and it's a nice twist in the series especially since the lesser war was getting old.

The writing is typically J.R. Ward but I think she was trying to push the gangsta talk just a little too much this time around. It's one thing to have it in conversations between the Brothers but to include it in the narrative is kind of a deterrent. Personally, I don't appreciate it because it's not normal for me and sometimes I found myself rereading a certain phrase because I didn't catch the meaning. I just find it odd that it has a place in the narrative, especially since it's written in the third person. (On another note, this might just be me but I find the Brothers often say "How's it doing?" while I would normally say "How's it going?" or "How're you doing?". I don't know. I just find it strange, enough that I had to mention it. Maybe it's a regional thing...)

I might have been a tad negative with this review, but don't get me wrong! I really enjoy this series as a whole and I'm hoping this is just that odd book in a series that I had a hard getting through. Like I mentioned previously, the next book is all about Blay and Quinn and there's just something about those two Brothers together that makes sense. I'm definitely still a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I'm ready to ignore the shortcomings of this book to keep the series going. I'm really looking forward to the next books, especially now that I've almost caught up with the series!

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:14

 Angel, Black Dagger Brotherhood, J.R. Ward, NAL, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Purchased, Review, vampires  2 People left their mark

Stacking the Shelves [106]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

——————

The past month has been good to me. I hope it's been good to you, too!

Don't forget to leave your STS link below.

For review:

White Heart of Justice by Jill Archer*
Fireborn by Keri Arthur*
The Kraken King (Part I) by Meljean Brook*
Seven Kinds of Hell by Dana Cameron*
Pack of Strays by Dana Cameron*
The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst
Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep*
The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa*
Shaman Rises by C. E. Murphy*
In the Black by Sheryl Nantus*
Some Fine Day by Kat Ross*
Dragons & Dirigibles by Cindy Spencer Pape*
Hunting the Night by Elizabeth Staub*
Sidekick by Auralee Wallace*

Bought:

Half Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire
Indexing by Seanan McGuire*
Primal Instinct by Katie Reus*
Mating Instinct by Katie Reus*

[inlinkz_linkup id=400464]

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 20:20

 Stacking The Shelves  21 People left their mark

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Kyra is the most wanted fugitive of the Kingdom. She tried, and failed, to kill her best friend, the Princess Arianna, heir to the throne. She's been running for 3 months now and she feels the urgency to kill her or the consequences will be dire. So much so that she turns for help to the worst criminal there is, and it's not the smartest move she's made...

Poison was a fun and engaging quick read and I can't believe it took me that long to read it. The cover was what first draw me in, and the synopsis promised a story full of adventure. I am a fantasy fan and I loved the idea of the main character being a potionnist (I mean, I had an alchemist when I used to play world of warcraft haha), so I knew I had to give it a shot.

I truly enjoyed this debut novel by Zinn even though this is a much lighter read than the likes of Cashore or Snyder. I would compare Zinn's style to Rachel Hawkins, but in a high fantasy set-up. The following quote is a good example of what I mean by 'light':

“Ariana, there's a small rodent on your face. Thought you should know."
"It's a mustache. Kyra assured me that it's extremely convincing.”

The whole novel is sprinkled with this same humour, keeping the tone generally joyful despite the whole 'running-for-her-life', 'wanting-to-kill-the-princess' theme.

The characters proved to be highly likeable and it's probably the main reason I enjoyed this book so much. Kyra is a capable young woman and she is full of mysteries. We discover all of her secrets along the way and learn why she wants to kill her best friend. Her determination is commendable and her skill is impressive. Fred was simply amazing and I loved him to pieces. He is fun, trustworthy, a good cook AND he is good looking. What more can a girl ask for? Rosy, the pink pig, also deserve an honorable mention for being such a cute and useful critter.

I loved how smoothly the storyline flowed and how everything made sense when Zinn finally let us in onto her secrets. The conclusion was also very satisfying and I find myself wondering if this novel is a stand alone or the first novel of a series? Either way, I strongly suggest you give it a shot, especially if you like Rachel Hawkins.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 00:42

 Bridget Zinn, Disney Hyperion, Fantasy, Hyperion, Magic, Netgalley, Review, Witch, young adult  8 People left their mark