Time of Ruin - Book Blitz

Time of Ruin (Ash and Ruin #2)

by Shauna Granger

Release Date: 07/22/14

Summary from Goodreads:

The world has ended, and hope is the most dangerous thing left.



Battered and bruised after barely escaping San Francisco with their lives, Kat, Dylan, and Blue press north – desperate to reach the possibility of a new home.



But strange, monstrous ravens are tracking the remaining survivors, food is becoming scarce, gasoline is running short, and people are becoming suicidal, making survival almost impossible.



And the Pestas are growing bolder. Somehow, their numbers are growing.



The further north they go, the harder it becomes to ignore the signs that they’ve made a fatal mistake. Kat must face the impossible truth that there is no escape, there is no safe haven, and their worst nightmares don’t come close to their new reality.

Excerpt:

Sitting on the bumper again, my jagged nails scratch at the plastic as I fight the urge to tell Dylan to hurry. Blue looks up at me and whines. I shake my head at him and pet him with the toe of my boot. His eyes are dark blue in the evening light. Blue drops his head and looks at Dylan, his ears perked up into two triangles. I follow his gaze. Dylan’s still standing, holding his instruments of destruction, and staring at the raging fire.

Blue pushes to his feet and barks one sharp, loud yelp. My hand drifts over to the rifle by my leg as I let my eyes slide from Dylan’s back to search for the source of Blue’s panic.

“Dylan.” I mean to call to him, but my voice comes out in a strangled whisper.

I swallow as I stand and pull the rifle with me. Across the street, the shadows between the houses are taking shape. They’re no longer the snapping, twisting formless shadows from the fire, but something more, something substantial. Dylan lifts the can of fluid and squirts more onto the fire, making it spike and lick the air.

“Dylan,” I try again, my voice a little louder. The rifle is in my hands now. The stock is pressed into my shoulder as I aim at the shadows peeling away from the deeper black.

Still Dylan doesn’t hear me, or is ignoring me.

Blue barks repeatedly, backing up until he hits the car. I find my voice and scream his name loud enough that it hurts my throat. Finally he looks at me, his face cast in shadows with the light behind him. I can’t make out his features, but I can make out the horde of Pestas behind him.

“Run!” I aim the gun as I walk backward around the car.

Instead of listening to me, he looks back to see what has terrified me so. They shuffle forward, lines of them spilling out into the cul-de-sac. Dylan takes two steps backward, nearly tripping over his feet and making me scream again. I rip the rear door open for Blue to get in the car. Slamming the door behind Blue, I lift the rifle and fire a shot, aiming well away from Dylan. The Pestas cringe in unison, as though they are all puppets controlled by the same set of strings.
“Run, dammit!” I scream.

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Book One:

(click cover to go to the Goodreads page of Book One)

About the Author

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.

Author Links:

   

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Murder of Crows - Book Review

Murder of Crows (The Others #2)
by Anne Bishop

What is it about:
After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

What did I think of it:
I really liked the first book in this series, but not enough to pay 18 Euro for this book. So I was all set to wait until the release of the paperback next year, when I got the hard cover as a present from a friend.

And this is another cool read.

I will confess i have a few reservations about this book though.

I do find the behavior of the Others towards humans... disturbing at times. They punish a whole town for the actions of a few of its inhabitants for example. If this behavior was displayed by humans towards a supernatural race, or humans towards a human minority I think everybody would agree it is clear who the bad guys are. But because it's the otherworldly Others it is implied it's just how they are and instead of the Others being the bad guys, they are painted as the good guys and the humans as the misbehaving monkeys.

Now I will have to say that a large part of the story is about the Others working towards understanding humans better, but still these incidents where they punish those who haven't done anything wrong are never mentioned as anything that shouldn't have happened. Well... It's mentioned that the humans shouldn't have acted like they did...

Ok. Now that I've got that grumble out of the way, let's talk about the good stuff.

Just as in the first book the world building is really intriguing and cool. Apart from their holier than humans attitude the Others are really cool as well. I really liked reading about all the different kinds of supernaturals.

I must say I liked Mary Sue Meg a lot more in this book than in the last one. She's starting to become more relatable. Simon was much more likable in this book as well, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.

All in all I think this is a really cool series, even with the grumbles I have about some things, and I will certainly get my trotters on book three. Although I won't be buying the Hard cover, so unless I'm lucky once more, it will be a long wait.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Urban Fantasy read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Zenn Scarlett

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Zenn had no idea what he was so agitated about - until she turned and saw the hound's holding pen. It was vacant.

(page 44, Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon)

Breaking Dawn - Book Rant

Breaking Dawn (Twilight #4)
by Stephenie Meyer

What is it about:
When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

What did I think of it:
Read the first paragraph of what this book is about?

There's my first grumble!

It's from the prologue of this book and had my hair stand on edge. How creepy and wrong is that statement!? And I do not care how it turns out in the rest of the book: that statement as it stands on its own is horrible! It tells abuse victims that it's ok to let themselves be abused, because when you love someone: how could you not? I can tell you I was tempted to throw the book across the room when it started like that.

But I read on.

Yeah...

I wasn't too happy about what happened in this book. Edward was acting as Edward. That guy is so self-centered. He thinks everything that happens has to do with him. If Bella would choke on her food, Edward would start moping and angsting, because he would think he should have chewed Bella's food for her. And Bella... Bella was acting all saintly. Only Jacob and his gang had some good actions, even though Jacob lost his way at a certain point. Luckily he found it again.

Then towards the end of book 2 of 3 in this volume, things started to lead up to a climax. I had this idea how I would want to have this climax play out. It would save a lot of the story for me.

But no...

The climax was more of a dud for me than a climax.

And then there was all of book three to go through, and to be honest I wasn't that interested anymore. Not that it was bad, it just seemed superfluous to me. And again the climax that this book build up to, was kind of a no show. I wanted more.

So in the end this book wasn't my favorite. I think I liked the third book the best. Still I might grumble a lot, but overall the three books that I read in this series were nice. I won't be rereading them, but I might give The Host by Meyer a chance.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Paranormal read.

Knight's Curse - Book Review

Knight's Curse (Knight's Curse #1)
by Karen Duvall

What is it about:
A skilled knife fighter since the age of nine, Chalice knows what its like to live life on the edge precariously balanced between the dark and the light. But the time has come to choose. The evil sorcerer who kidnapped her over a decade ago requires her superhuman senses to steal a precious magical artifact or she must suffer the consequences.

Desperate to break the curse that enslaves her, Chalice agrees. But it is only with the help of Aydin, her noble warrior-protector that she will risk venturing beyond the veil to discover the origins of her power. Only for him will she dare to fully embrace her awesome talents. For a deadly duel is at hand, and Chalice alone will have to decide between freedom and the love of her life.

What did I think of it:
This is a nice read.

I had some trouble connecting with Chalice. For a lead character with a troubled past, she felt a bit flat. I know she's been a slave of both the curse and her master since the age of thirteen, still you'd think she would have a bit more personality.

Luckily Aydin enters the stage and he's a lot more interesting. And through his interest in Chalice I finally started to like Chalice as well.

The story is intriguing and suspenseful, and it's that what kept me reading at first (before Aydin appeared). Luckily I connected with Chalice because later in the story things get much more emotional, and a lack of connection with the characters could have destroyed the enjoyment of this book.

So after a rocky start I enjoyed this story, and it ends in such a way that I will have to get my trotters on the next book to see what will happen next.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable (Urban) Fantasy read.

On McPig's Radar - Mermaid

This sounds like it might be an intriguing read.


Mermaid
by Kate O'Connor

How far would you go for freedom?

When genetically engineered sea drone Coral saved two drowning humans, she didn’t expect to end up questioning the foundations of her world… but humans don’t seem as different as she’s always been told. With nothing ahead of her but mindless days of harvesting seaweed for World Food Co., she has to know why humans are free to choose and drones aren’t.

Coral’s only hope of transforming her future lies in taking on a battle her people gave up a century ago. However, each step nearer to drone freedom brings her closer to falling in love with Rob, the man she saved and heir to the company she is fighting to change.

Struggling to unravel politics and passion, Coral begins to realize that she stands to lose more than just a chance at being human. Both her life and Rob’s may just balance on whether or not they can create a world where drones can be free.



Buy from Musa Publishing

Mortal Danger - Early Book Review

Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1)
by Ann Aguirre

What is it about:
Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

What did I think of it:
Mostly this is a cool read.

I liked Edie. Having been bullied myself in the past, I could relate to her, and even understand why she would want revenge. I was captured by the story from the start. It was clear Edie is making a deal that could backfire, so I was eager to find out what would happen.

I also really liked Kian. He's mysterious and enigmatic. I liked how he slowly seems to open up to Edie and starts telling her things. But is what he tells true, or is he playing a game with her?

Overall the story is really suspenseful and intriguing. There's lots going on, and you keep guessing why things are happening and what the end results will be.

The one thing that really bothered me though, is the message this books has about bullies. In my opinion there is no excuse for bullying, but this book tries to tell you that bullies are actually people with problems. It's those problems that make them lash out and act like bullies, but deep in their hearts they're actually nice. *puke*

But it isn't the first time I've come across that bully defense, so because the rest of the book is cool I will let it slide.

I will most certainly keep an eye out for the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful Paranormal YA read.