The SULLIVANS - Best Zombie Book Nominations

Here are my nominations for
the SULLIVAN Award for Best Zombie Book.

Let me know in the comments what book you are rooting for. It can be one of these books, or another zombie book you love.

The winner will be announced during my Award Event in June.
(there might be a vote if needed)


100 Days in Deadland (Deadland #1)
by Rachel Aukes


Deck Z
by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon


Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1)
by Justina Ireland


Flesh
by Laura Bickle


Rot & Ruin (Rot & Ruin #1)
by Jonathan Maberry

This Monstrous Thing - Spoilery Book Rant

This Monstrous Thing
by Mackenzi Lee

What is it about:
In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead.

His sweetheart, Mary—gone.

His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.

Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay...

What did I think of it:
*Spoilers Ahead*

So this is a retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, with a steampunk twist.

This could have been a nice retelling, but for one thing: the inclusion of Mary Shelley as a character. I was enjoying the book until more and more about the character Mary was revealed.

Picture someone writing an amazing story, that starts a new genre and is still loved many years after it was first published. Picture someone using this beloved classic to write their own version. Picture them using the original author of the story as a character in their retelling.

Got that? I for one picture a woman who did something amazing, and deserves praise and thanks from the borrowing author.

None of that in This Monstrous Thing. Mary is a girl who wants adventure, and acts big while she is secretly scared of real adventure. She uses Alasdair to feel good about herself, writes a book about him resurrecting his brother, while she knows he wants to keep it secret - therefor betraying his trust - and she is a coward who runs off when she is needed...

Seriously?!

That's how you treat the author who's story you are using for your retelling? I couldn't care for this story anymore once it was clear Mary was painted as a story stealing coward. I think she should have been left out if this is the way she was used.

You bet this book was immediately donated to the charity book shop after I finished it.

Why should you read it:
Don't! Read the original instead.


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Introducing: The SULLIVANS!

Award season is upon us with lots of books getting nominated, judged, etc...

And as always only few of my favorites appear on the lists. I grumbled a bit, but then I decided:

Why not have my own awards!

So the SULLIVANS was born.

And you can join the fun!

I will have my own award season in June!
I'll make an amazing award for one book I think really deserves ALL THE AWARDS! This award will be the SULLIVAN for Awesomest Book of Awesome!

But...
There are more books that deserve awards!

So these next few month I'll be nominating books for the SULLIVANS in different categories. Think: Best Zombie Book, Best YA Fantasy, Best Urban Fantasy, Most Awesome Sidekick, Total Cover Buy But Did Not Regret, Swooniest Romance, etc...

And here you guys can help!

Know a cool category for a SULLIVAN, or a book you think really deserves to be nominated for a cool award? Let me know! Either in the comments of one of my SULLIVANS posts or email me. I'll have some voting rounds if enough people are interested.

Lets give the books we love some extra love!

The Queen's Resistance - Book Review

The Queen's Resistance (The Queen's Rising #2)
by Rebecca Ross

What is it about:
Finally, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, a disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his house. Though she’d just survived a revolution, one that will finally return a queen to the throne, she faces another difficult challenge. She must prove herself trustworthy to the MacQuinns. But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s house as well as her country. And then there’s Cartier, a wholly separate but desirable factor in her new life.

Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia as a master of knowledge and his current one as the lord of a fallen house. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers a ten-year-old boy named Tomas, whose past and parentage are a complete mystery. So when Cartier’s former pupil Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, he lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his house alone?

As the Lannon trial rapidly approaches, Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside to concentrate on forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one interferes with the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces. And nothing makes a person more vulnerable than deep-seated love.

What did I think of it:
I fell in love with The Queen's Rising, so I pre-ordered this book as soon as I could.

And what a beautiful story this is!

After having defeated an evil king Brienna and her friends discover that's not the end of their problems. The bad guys need to be punished, the queen crowned, and a new future has to be build. But who actually are the bad guys? And to stay in power the queen needs alliances.

The story is told from both Brienna's Point of View and Cartier's PoV. Both have their own problems they have to deal with, but they're also there for each other. I rooted for both of them to solve their problems and be together. I liked how not every problem is huge and earth-shattering, but how some seem small, but are just as important as bigger ones.

There were some things that I could see coming, but it wasn't annoying, I actually enjoyed looking for extra clues and for the moment things would fall together for Brienna and Cartier.

All in all a beautiful read and a worthy sequel to The Queen's Rising. I really hope that Ross will write more books in this world, because I want more!

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


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Lonen's Reign - Out Now!

It's here!
The thrilling conclusion to The Sorcerous Moons series. Go grab your copy, because I can tell you it's amazing!


Lonen's Reign (Sorcerous Moons #6)
by Jeffe Kennedy

A Looming Threat

The sorceress Oria has finally come into her own—able to wield the power of her birthright and secure in the marriage she once believed would bring her only misery. But the past she escaped still chases her, and the certainty of war promises to destroy everything she’s fought to have.

An Impossible War

Once before Lonen led an army in a desperate attempt to stop the powerfully murderous sorcerers of Bára—and he nearly lost everything. Now he must return to the battlefield that took the lives of so many of his people. Only this time he has more to risk than ever.

The Final Conflict

With guile, determination—and unexpected allies—Oria and Lonen return to the place where it all began… and only hope that it won’t also be the end of them.


Find buy links here

Teaser Tuesdays - Honor Bound

"You could have killed yourself!"
"And you followed." I pointed out. "Couldn't have been that bad."

(page 67, Honor Bound by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre)


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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 sh"are 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!

The Bad Luck Bride - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

The Bad Luck Bride (The Cavensham Heiresses #1)
by Janna MacGregor

What is it about:
All were shocked at the announcement of the “cursed” Lady Claire Cavensham to Lord Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, especially since she is already engaged to another unfortunate Lord. Perhaps she will make it to the altar this time with one of these fine gentlemen! —Midnight Cryer

No one is left breathless at the imperious pronouncement of her engagement to Lord Pembrooke more than Claire. She hardly knows the dangerously outrageous man! But after three engagements gone awry and a fourth going up in glorious flames, she isn’t in a position to refuse...

Alexander requires the hand of his enemy’s fiancée in marriage in order to complete his plans for revenge. It’s his good fortune that the “cursed” woman is desperate. However, what begins as a sham turns into something scandalously deeper...

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

Maybe it's just me, but the conflict in this book felt tame. Don't get me wrong: I liked Claire and Alexander and I enjoyed their romance, but with the set up I had expected more drama and more hurdles to their happy end. And even the hurdles they had to take lacked a certain depth in my opinion. I didn't feel their emotions, I wasn't invested in their struggles. Part of this may be because both keep their cards close to their chest, which made it hard for me to really get to know them.

That aside: they made a sweet couple and even though I didn't emotionally connect I had fun seeing their romance unfold. A nice read when you're in the mood for an enjoyable Historical Romance. I might even try another book by MacGregor if I run into it.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable Historical Romance.


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