Precious Blood - Book Review

Precious Blood/The Blessed (The Blessed #1)
by Tonya Hurley

What is it about:
From the author of the New York Times bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy; a boy who believes he is a saint.

What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them? Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.

What did I think of it:
This is a book that has multiple titles, so beware when starting on this series. My copy is called Precious Blood, but the same book is also titled The Blessed and The Blessed Book.

Anyway.

Going by the reviews it seemed like this is a book you either love or hate. So of course that made me very curious about it. Luckily I won a copy of this book in a giveaway, so I could give it a try.

And this is a beautiful story.

Agnes, Cecilia and Lucy are three very different girls, but all three are missing something in their life. Enter Sebastian: he reaches out to them and tells them they are special. What insecure young girl wouldn't be affected?

I like how this story doesn't immediately give clear answers, but raises lots of questions. Who is Sebastian? What does he want from the three girls? Are they indeed as special as he tells them, or is he playing with them?

And when strange things begin to happen, the story gets even more complicated. Is what the girls experience really happening? Why is it happening, and can they handle it?

I must say I was captured by this story and fell in love with it. I can understand why some people don't like this story though. It's often unclear what is going on, and if the things that happen are real or not. It's a set up that can easily ruin a story, but in my opinion Hurley pulled it off.

Overall this book is beautiful and thought provoking, and I will most certainly get hold of the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautifully written (Paranormal) YA read.

On McPig's Wishlist - Servants of the Storm

Voodoo Bride and I both love Dawson's Wicked As They Come, have read several of her Blud novella's and are eager to read the two other novels in the Blud series. So when we heard of this YA written by Dawson it went straight on our wishlist!

Doesn't it sound really cool and creepy?!


Servants of the Storm
by Delilah S. Dawson

A year ago Hurricane Josephine swept through Savannah, Georgia, leaving behind nothing but death and destruction — and taking the life of Dovey's best friend, Carly. Since that night, Dovey has been in a medicated haze, numb to everything around her.

But recently she's started to believe she's seeing things that can't be real ... including Carly at their favorite cafe. Determined to learn the truth, Dovey stops taking her pills. And the world that opens up to her is unlike anything she could have imagined.

As Dovey slips deeper into the shadowy corners of Savannah — where the dark and horrifying secrets lurk — she learns that the storm that destroyed her city and stole her friend was much more than a force of nature. And now the sinister beings truly responsible are out to finish what they started.

Dovey's running out of time and torn between two paths. Will she trust her childhood friend Baker, who can't see the threatening darkness but promises to never give up on Dovey and Carly? Or will she plot with the sexy stranger, Isaac, who offers all the answers — for a price? Soon Dovey realizes that the danger closing in has little to do with Carly ... and everything to do with Dovey herself.


Expected publication: August 5th 2014 by Simon Pulse

Snowblind - Book Review

Snowblind
by Christopher Golden

What is it about:
The small New England town of Coventry had weathered a thousand blizzards...but never one like this. Icy figures danced in the wind and gazed through children's windows with soul-chilling eyes. People wandered into the whiteout and were never seen again. Families were torn apart, and the town would never be the same.

Now, as a new storm approaches twelve years later, the folks of Coventry are haunted by the memories of that dreadful blizzard and those who were lost in the snow. Photographer Jake Schapiro mourns his little brother, Isaac, even as---tonight---another little boy is missing. Mechanic and part-time thief Doug Manning's life has been forever scarred by the mysterious death of his wife, Cherie, and now he’s starting over with another woman and more ambitious crimes. Police detective Joe Keenan has never been the same since that night, when he failed to save the life of a young boy . . . and the boy’s father vanished in the storm only feet away. And all the way on the other side of the country, Miri Ristani receives a phone call . . . from a man who died twelve years ago.

As old ghosts trickle back, this new storm will prove to be even more terrifying than the last.

What did I think of it:
I love Golden's Young Adult zombie book Soulless, so when I heard he had written another horror novel, I had to read it.

And this is a very cool read.

I will confess it wasn't as scary and creepy as I had expected. The book started out with lots of tension and a feeling of doom. Then after the first major event the story jumps to twelve years later and the story calms down. Things slowly start building up again, and you get to know the major players of the story and what happened to them in the twelve years since the first storm.

I liked getting to know the people of Coventry, and to read about their day to day troubles. Everyone who lost someone in the storm twelve years earlier is still feeling the effects of that storm. I think Golden did a great job in showing how much impact an event like that can have on a small community.

Then when the next storm looms, tension begins to build again. Strange things start happening. It never got to the point where it felt scary or creepy though. It's a cool story, but it didn't get under my skin. It reminded me in mood of some of the stories by Koontz: intriguing and filled with interesting characters, but missing the real punch to make it a horror in my opinion.

All in all I very much enjoyed the book, but would label it more of a ghostly thriller than horror. It did earn its place on my keeper shelf no matter the lack of creepiness though.

Why should you read it:
It's a well written Ghostly Thriller.

The Mackenzie Duncan Series - Promo

The Tempering

The Mythology department at prestigious Harvard University is tiny—and Mackenzie Duncan has just been selected as one of the lucky few. Her love for myths and legends is deep, but she never thought any of it could be real.

After being attacked by a large wolf while walking home alone, Mackenzie realizes something is not right. She heals quickly, has suddenly become super strong, and is experiencing mood swings that can't possibly be normal. The myths she's studying aren't myths at all. Werewolves are real, and she's one of them. Fear of what she is, and who she might hurt sends Mackenzie running from the life she’s worked hard to build–and straight into the arms of a handsome Were named Geoff and into the home of his pack. Living with her new pack takes the edge off her confusion and self-loathing, but the arrival of new pack members changes the dynamic, and tests Geoff and Mackenzie’s growing relationship.

The hardest part of being a werewolf is to have no control and no memory of her time as a bloodthirsty beast. When a moon cycle passes, and she is actually able to remember bits and pieces of the night, she starts to ask questions, and the more questions she asks, the more she realizes she doesn’t like the answers. Can she set aside her own sense of morals to belong to a pack that is like a family or will she leave everything behind yet again in search of a life she can be proud of?

Purchase on Amazon      Purchase on Barnes and Noble

The Enlightening

Mackenzie Duncan found out that pack life wasn’t for her. Now she is running for the second time in the six months since she was bitten and turned into a Werewolf. But this time, she isn’t alone. This time, she has Geoff and Liam with her, two very hot Werewolves vying for her heart.

But her companions aren't her focus. The only thing she can focus on is getting far from her old pack and their murderous ways. Only, she doesn’t just want to run. She wants to warn every pack she can that their lives are in danger too. No one should be turned against their will like she was and no other pack should have to surrender to the ideas of a centuries old, power hungry woman.

Not only does Mackenzie have to deal with her crazy ex-pack leader sending people out to kill her, she has to keep both men at arm’s length (and that proves to be much more difficult than she thought), but she finds out more about her own life and heritage than she ever thought imaginable.

And suddenly, everything makes sense...

Purchase on Amazon      Purchase on Barnes and Noble

About Adrianne James

 

Growing up, Adrianne couldn’t get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn’t have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.

During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life’s stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.

As a young adult and new adult author, Adrianne James has plans to bring stories of growing characters, a little romance, and perhaps a little magic and mythology down the line for her readers to enjoy.

Website   Facebook    Twitter   Goodreads

 

Immortal Sin - Promo Post

Purchase on Amazon

One Girl.

Two Worlds.

Three Questions.

What lies beneath the hidden secret?

Can love rise above the inevitable?

And most importantly, where will her fate lead her?

Amanda Chaste had lived what she considered an average life in New Jersey, looked after and cared for by her grandmother. But when she accidentally meets an enigmatic stranger from out of town, her world is drastically thrown upside down. A hidden secret has been buried in the past and not even Amanda can save herself from her own fate.

Conflicted and tormented within her own flesh, discovering her true identity will prove to be something that will change her life forever.

Teaser

About Julie Milillo

Julie Milillo has and always will be a true Jersey girl from  the shore. Acting, singing, writing and drawing were always  her hobbies from the very beginning. Julie has always been involved in the arts and loves to express her creative streak in any way she can.

She graduated from Brookdale Community College with her Associates Degree in Theatre and Liberal Arts. Soon after,  she discovered her passion for reading and thus fell in love  with the paranormal fiction genre. After reading and  collecting a number of books, she decided it was time to create her own stories and characters. After having the opportunity to meet one of her favorite authors, she was  determined to take writing seriously. Julie applies her knowledge of acting and character development in creating  her stories. Her goal is to simply express the genuine qualities in her stories and the characters she creates in hopes of capturing the hearts of readers who also love this genre.

Julie currently resides in Maryland with her husband and her French Bulldog, Goober. Julie loves dogs, movies, music, and anything fantasy related. In her free time, she loves to bake and perform whenever she can.

Her writing debut novel, Immortal Sin, the first of The Immortal Sin Trilogy, was released on November 22nd 2012. The sequel, Immortal Descent will be released in October 2013.

Website     Facebook     Twitter

Raven's Gate - Book Review

Raven's Gate (The Gatekeepers #1)
by Anthony Horowitz

What is it about:
He always knew he was different.
First there were the dreams.
Then the deaths began.

When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he's sent to be fostered in Yorkshire. It's not long before he senses there's something wrong with his guardian: with the whole village.

Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how he is different. But no one will believe him; no one can help.

There is no proof. There is no logic. There is just the Gate.

What did I think of it:
Some years ago somebody told me about this book and it sounded familiar. When I told her I thought I read it back in the early 90's I was rebuffed. 'Not possible, it's first been published in 2005', I was told. Still, I was sure I knew this story, so I did some digging. It turned out that Raven's Gate was indeed first published in 2005, but it is a rewrite of The Devil's Doorbell which was first published in 1983. Back in the 80's Horowitz started on a series called the Pentagram series and didn't finish it. He did pull out the series again about 20 years later, rewrote and finished it.

Remembering how much I liked The Devil's Doorbell and the other books in the Pentagram series when I read them back in the 90's, I picked up Raven's Gate when I came across it. I must say I was curious if this rewrite would capture me as much as the original did over 20 years ago.

And I can happily tell you this is a great read.

It has been many years since I read The Devil's Doorbell (in Dutch translation), but I have the feeling Horowitz stayed close to the original in this rewrite. Ok, Matt knows how to surf the internet, and there's mention of DVDs, current actors and Harry Potter, but the basic story was as I remembered it.

And it's a story full of mystery and suspense. Matt encounters strange things and at times he questions his own sanity, but it doesn't take him long to figure out he's in danger.

I can't remember if Matt used to be the same troubled teen in the version I read back then, I will confess. I have the feeling he wasn't, but I might be mistaken. I must say the troubled teen thing fit the story. It made it believable that people don't take the things Matt tells them serious.

All in all I was captured by the story and finished the book in almost one sitting. This is a cool adventure no matter in what time period it is set.

So I think Horowitz did a nice job of rewriting the story and pulling it into the 21st century. I might try to track down the other books in this series and finally discover how it ends.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful Paranormal read for younger teens.

On McPig's Wishlist - The Infects

I will confess I'd buy this book just for the cover alone if it was a bit cheaper. But the story sounds really cool as well, so I might cave one of these days and buy it even though it's more than 10 Euro.


The Infects
by Sean Beaudoin

A feast for the brain, this gory and genuinely hilarious take on zombie culture simultaneously skewers, pays tribute to, and elevates the horror genre.

Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an “Inward Trek.” As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of “infects” shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate “Zombie Rules” almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back.

Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you won’t see coming, here is a savvy tale that that’s a delight to read—whether you’re a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten—and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us.

Kept - Book Review

Kept (Coveted #2)
by Shawntelle Madison

What is it about:
Fresh from defending her pack in battle, Natalya Stravinsky, a whip-smart werewolf with a lovable neurotic streak, wants a little rest and relaxation. Once an outcast, she’s now eager to rejoin the ranks of her New Jersey pack, and has even gotten a handle on her obsessive urge to hoard holiday ornaments. Yet Nat barely has time to revel in her progress before the next crisis comes howling at her door.

Nat’s father has suddenly gone missing, captured by the Russian werewolf mafia. And as Nat steps up to save her dad from a mob boss’s deadly game, two men step in to play another round for her heart: her gorgeous alpha ex-boyfriend, Thorn, and her new flame, the sweetly sensitive wizard Nick. With her life growing more harried by the minute, Nat must stay cool, calm, and collected . . . or else risk losing everything.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first book in this series, so I got my trotters on Kept as soon as possible.

And this book too is a great read.

I will confess I was a little annoyed by Thorn's behavior, who acts at times as if Nat isn't even capable of tying her own shoes. Luckily Nat has learned to stand up for herself and she doesn't let herself get sidelined.

The story is cool, suspenseful and fun. I liked how Nat gets help from her female friends as well. So often the other women are only there to compliment the heroine or to act as a jealousy story hook, so it's cool to see some great female characters who actually help out and are part of the action.

There's a lot of love triangling going on and I'm sure some readers will love how that's progressing, but I'm not liking where it's going. I'm rooting for the wrong guy again I fear.

So all in all this is a great read, although a little bit more frustrating than the first book. I will certainly continue reading this series, and I will try to get hold of other books by Madison as well.

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

Teaser Tuesdays - Raven's Gate

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!


A huge carving knife had been thrust into a kitchen cupboard, its blade penetrating the wood. The handle slanted towards him. It looked odd and menacing.
(page 101, Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz)

Allegiance - Book Review *

Allegiance (River of Souls #3)
by Beth Bernobich

What is it about:
With Leos Dzavek dead and his Council in turmoil, the king of Veraene sees his chance to launch his long-desired war against Károví. Ilse Zhalina and Raul Kosenmark know the people of Károví are not so easily defeated, however. Raul sets off for Duenne to confront his king and retake his place in Veraene's Court. Ilse Zhalina embarks on the long journey from Károví with a letter vital to their cause of peace. Both of them must beware of Markus Khandarr, King Armand's most trusted Councilor and Raul's long-time enemy, who has plans of his own.

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

Ilse's journey is full of danger and treachery and I was rooting for her to get back to Raul. She has to leave some people behind, but meets others along the way. I kept trying to guess who she could trust and who might stab her in the back.

Raul's storyline is filled with even more intrigue and politics. New to me characters appeared, but from the context of the story I learned they were returning characters from the first book in this trilogy (which I didn't read). Still I didn't feel like I missed out on things. There were some pretty intense moments and situations and at times I wondered if this story could have a happy end.

I was a bit disappointed that some characters suddenly disappeared from the story without there being a real conclusion to their storyline, but the story was interesting enough that I didn't mind too much.

All in all this story was pretty enjoyable and had me invested, until...

Close to the end there was a kind of Deus Ex Machina for something that really annoyed me. I must confess I was close to throwing the book across the room. This event was totally unnecessary in my opinion, and the book would have been much better without it.

With much grumbling I continued to read on and the conclusion of this trilogy is satisfying enough, although that one event colored my remaining reading experience I will confess. (I must add that it might be just me who got really annoyed, others might actually think this Deus Ex Machina is wonderful.)

So in the end I thought this was an enjoyable read until the last few chapters. I don't think I will reread this series, but I might give another series by Bernobich a try.

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




*This review has previously been posted at Between Dreams & Reality

Undead - Book Review

Undead (Undead #1)
by Kirsty McKay

What is it about:
Out of sight, out of their minds: It's a school-trip splatter fest and completely not cool when the other kids in her class go all braindead on new girl Bobby.

The day of the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty.
Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. Start to stress. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back.

But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late.

What did I think of it:
I picked this up because of the cover, which promised zombie mayhem.

And even though there could have been lots more zombie mayhem in my opinion, this is a very entertaining read. There's screaming teens, teen angsting, teen zombies, conspiracies, zombie chases and more.

I will confess I was a bit surprised to discover this book wasn't set in the US, but in Scotland, but for the story it didn't really matter where it was taking place, so I didn't mind.

Next to Bobby and Smitty some other teens manage to escape becoming zombies as well, and the four of them form a mismatched group of heroes. There's the usual stereotypes of course, but that makes a story like this only more entertaining. To be honest: I didn't pick this book up for originality, so I was more than happy with the cliches.

All in all this is a very enjoyable zombie romp that can easily be read as a standalone, but also sets itself up nicely for a sequel. I will certainly pick up that sequel next time I want some zombie entertainment.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Young Adult Zombie read.

The Silver Bough - Book Review

The Silver Bough
by Lisa Tuttle

What is it about:
Nestled on the coast of Scotland, Appleton was once famous for its apples. Now, though the orchards are long gone, locals still dream of the town’s glory days, when an Apple Queen was crowned at the annual fair and good luck seemed a way of life. And outsiders are still drawn to the charming village, including three very different American women.

Enchanted by Appleton’s famously ornate, gold-domed library, divorcée Kathleen Mullaroy has left her cosmopolitan job to start anew as the town’s head librarian. Widowed Nell Westray hopes for a quiet life of gardening in the place where she and her husband spent their happiest moments. And young Ashley Kaldis has come to find her roots, and learns that the town’s fortunes turned when her grandmother was crowned Apple Queen–then mysteriously disappeared.

When a sudden landslide cuts Appleton off from the wider world–and the usual constraints of reality–the village reveals itself to be an extraordinary place, inhabited by legendary beings, secret rooms, and the blossoming of a rare fruit not seen in decades. Most unexpected is a handsome stranger who will draw all three women into an Otherworld in which luck and love will return to Appleton–if only one of them will believe.

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

This story starts out as if it's a contemporary tale, but slowly more and more magical elements appear, until at one point I was just as creeped out as one of the lead characters by the strange things that happened.

The story switches between several viewpoint characters, and I liked most of them. The one character I couldn't relate with was Ashley, she was too self centered and hostile at times. I think Nell was my favorite character. She's a difficult person, but I could understand why she acted like she did.

The setting is beautiful and over the course of the story you get more and more background information, in the form of letters and newspaper articles, about Appleton, which helps with understanding what's happening. Usually I don't much like the inclusion of newspaper articles and such, but in this story it fits and adds to the atmosphere.

All in all this is an intense and beautiful story. I will certainly investigate what other books Tuttle has written, and this book will be added to my keeper shelves.

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

Nightmare Ink - Cover Reveal

I am proud to be the one to reveal the cover of Nightmare Ink by Marcella Burnard to you all.

I love Marcella's SciFi books Enemy Within and Enemy Games, so I can tell you I'm really looking forward to read Nightmare Ink, it sounds awesome.

And isn't that cover just gorgeous?!
(click the picture for a bigger and better view)


Nightmare Ink (Living Ink #1)
by Marcella Burnard

With the needle of a tattoo gun, Aisa Romanchzyk has the power to create and destroy. In her shop Nightmare Ink, Aisa helps those in need by binding the powers embedded in their Live Ink—the magical tattoos that can enhance the life of the wearer, or end it. But binding tattoos has earned Aisa the contempt of her fellow artists—including her former lover Daniel.

When a friend comes to the shop with a tattoo on the verge of killing him, Aisa can’t turn him away. For the first time in years, she works Live Ink into someone’s skin—something she swore she’d never do again. But breaking her vow soon becomes the least of her problems.

Aisa is horrified to discover her friend’s body in the shop, but the real nightmare begins when she’s abducted and inked against her will. Now, as she seeks retribution from the man who betrayed her, Asia must figure out how to bind her Living Tattoo before it consumes her completely...


Coming April 2014 from Intermix Urban Fantasy

Teaser Tuesdays - Smoulder

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!


He keeps clearing his throat, like if he could just get something out of the way, he could speak. Say everything.
"I won't hurt you,"I tell him, but it's only a whisper.
(page 110, Smoulder/The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff)

Queen's Hunt - Book Review *

Queen's Hunt (River of Souls #2)
by Beth Bernobich

What is it about:
Ilse Zhalina has left to start a new life in a garrisoned fort, leagues from her estranged lover, Raul Kosenmark. The violent quarrel that ended Ilse and Raul's relationship was quite public. And also, quite fake. They hope to mislead Kosenmark's enemies so that he can continue to influence the politics of the kingdom in an attempt to stave off an ill-advised war, while keeping Ilse safe from royal assassins who would kill anyone Raul is close to. Ilse longs for Raul, but is set on her own quest to find one of the three fabled jewels of Lir. One of the jewels is held by King Dzavek, sworn enemy of Veraene, who has used the jewel's power to live for centuries. Ilse seeks one of the other stones to counterbalance Dzavek's efforts to destroy her country.

In her search, she encounters a shipwrecked prisoner from another land, a woman who has a secret of her own...and the second jewel in her keeping. The two women become allies in their quest for the third jewel, because finding and controlling these stones could mean salvation for both of their nations. And their failure the ruin of their peoples.

What did I think of it:
This is the second book in what I think is a trilogy. I hadn't read the first book, but this sounded intriguing enough to give it a try anyway.

And I have to confess that at the start of the book I was confused a lot. Not knowing what happened in book one, who some of the characters were, and if they were good guys or bad guys, I felt adrift. This being a world where people also remember their earlier lives didn't make it easier. But slowly I learned more about the world, the characters and what their motives were, and I was drawn into the story.

There's a lot going on, and there are a couple of different viewpoint characters. Some I liked from the start, like Ilse, others I mistrusted. The intrigues, switching loyalties and politics in this story make that you have to keep paying attention to understand what's going on and who is to trust.

The world building and setting were very interesting. I already mentioned that people remember past lives. This made for interesting situations where people meet someone new, but remember them from a past life. It added extra intrigue to already tense situations.

The one thing that annoyed me was the language used for magic. It was a bastardized version of German, or maybe it was very old German, but close enough to the modern German I know that it grated on me. I kept wanting to correct it. Luckily the use of the language was limited, so I could mostly ignore it.

This book ends with some major plot points solved and others still wide open. It was an ending that was both satisfying and that left me curious for the next book. Luckily the next book was already in my tbr-pile, so expect a review of it soon.

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





*This review has previously been posted at Between Dreams & Reality

World of Ash - Book Review

World of Ash
by Shauna Granger

What is it about:
There are two inherent truths in the world: life as we know it is over, and monsters are real.

The Pestas came in the night, spreading their pox, a deadly plague that decimated the population. Kat, one of the unlucky few who survived, is determined to get to her last living relative and find shelter from the pox that continues to devastate the world. When it mutates and becomes airborne, Kat is desperate to avoid people because staying alone might be her only chance to stay alive.

That is, until she meets Dylan. Dylan, with his easy smile and dark, curly hair, has nowhere to go and no one to live for. He convinces Kat there can be safety in numbers, that they can watch out for each other. So the unlikely couple set off together through the barren wasteland to find a new life – if they can survive the roaming Pestas, bands of wild, gun-toting children, and piles of burning, pox-ridden bodies.

What did I think of it:
As you know I got a weakness for post apocalyptic stories, so when I heard about this book I had to read it.

And this is such a cool read!

The mood of this story is dark and grim and even though it's written in present tense I was hooked from the start. I barely noticed the present tense, I was that involved in what was going on.

Kat is a character I can relate to. She's cautious and a bit cynical. It's clear from some flashbacks that this isn't who she used to be before the plague though. And then there's Dylan. He's the opposite of Kat in a lot of ways and the interaction between the two of them is cool to read.

There's lots of suspenseful situations and I couldn't stop reading. When one dangerous situation was resolved, the next crisis popped up, keeping me on the edge of my seat. I only stopped reading when I had to and finished it in a day.

I'm very glad that this isn't a standalone, and that Granger is working on a sequel, because I need more!

Why should you read it:
It's a cool and grim Post Apocalyptic read.

Clovenhoof - Goodreads Giveaway Alert

There's a giveaway of 2 signed paperback of Clovenhoof on Goodreads!

You can bet I entered and I can advice everyone to enter as well, because Clovenhoof is a really fun book.


Clovenhoof
by Heide Goody & Iain Grant
ebook

Charged with gross incompetence, Satan is fired from his job as Prince of Hell and exiled to that most terrible of places: English suburbia. Forced to live as a human under the name of Jeremy Clovenhoof, the dark lord not only has to contend with the fact that no one recognises him or gives him the credit he deserves but also has to put up with the bookish wargamer next door and the voracious man-eater upstairs.

Heaven, Hell and the city of Birmingham collide in a story that features murder, heavy metal, cannibalism, armed robbers, devious old ladies, Satanists who live with their mums, gentlemen of limited stature, dead vicars, petty archangels, flamethrowers, sex dolls, a blood-soaked school assembly and way too much alcohol.


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666 Park Avenue - Book Review

666 Park Avenue (666 Park Avenue #1)
by Gabriella Pierce

What is it about:
What if your mother-in-law turned out to be an evil, cold-blooded witch . . . literally?

Ever since fabulously wealthy Malcolm Doran walked into her life and swept her off her feet, fledgling architect Jane Boyle has been living a fairy tale. When he proposes with a stunning diamond to seal the deal, Jane can't believe her incredible luck and decides to leave her Paris-based job to make a new start with Malcolm in New York.

But when Malcolm introduces Jane to the esteemed Doran clan, one of Manhattan's most feared and revered families, Jane's fairy tale takes a darker turn. Soon everything she thought she knew about the world—and herself—is upended. Now Jane must struggle with newfound magical abilities and the threat of those who will stop at nothing to get them.

What did I think of it:
This is an enjoyable read.

I must say I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I had expected it to be a high society drama with lots of catty and snarky scenes.

Luckily this was not the case.

Of course there are catty people in this story, but Jane is a likeable and down-to-earth kind of girl to my relief. If I could say anything against her, it's that she's a bit of a pushover at times. It takes a long time for Jane to act against the things that happen. I probably would have had all the trouble that visits Jane over the course of the whole book, visiting me in the first few chapters.

That said: the story is intriguing and suspenseful. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened next. The world building wasn't too original, but it worked for this story so I was happy to go along with it. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but overall this is a fast and easy read.

The ending was surprising, but satisfying and left my curious what will happen next. I think I will try to get my trotters on the next book in this series soon.

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

On McPig's Wishlist - Nil

This sounds like it might be a really cool and intense read. You can bet I'll be getting my trotters on it.


Nil
by Lynne Matson

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly.


Expected publication: March 4th 2014

The Last Victim - Book Review

The Last Victim (Dr. Charlotte Stone #1)
by Karen Robards

What is it about:
A sought-after expert in criminal pathology, Charlie regularly sits face-to-face with madmen. Obsessed with learning what makes human monsters commit terrible crimes, Charlie desires little else from life—no doubt because when she was sixteen, she herself survived a serial killer’s bloodbath: A man butchered the family of Charlie’s best friend, Holly, then left the girl’s body on a seaside boardwalk one week later.

Because of the information Charlie gave police, the Boardwalk Killer went underground. She kept to herself her eerie postmortem visions of Holly and her mother. And even years later, knowing her contact with ghosts might undermine her credibility as a psychological expert, Charlie tells no one about the visits she gets from the spirit world.

Now all-too-handsome FBI agent Tony Bartoli is telling Charlie that a teenage girl is missing, her family slaughtered. Bartoli suspects that after fifteen years, the Boardwalk Killer—or a sick copycat with his M.O.—is back. Time is running short for an innocent, kidnapped girl, and Bartoli pleads for Charlie’s help.

This is the one case Charlie shouldn’t go near. But she also knows that she may be the one person in the world who can stop this vicious killer. For Charlie—whose good looks disguise a world of hurt, vulnerability, and potent psychic gifts—a frantic hunt for a madman soon becomes a complex test of cunning, passions, and secrets. Aiding Dr. Stone on her quest to catch a madman is a ghostly presence with bad intentions: the fiery spirit of seductive bad boy Michael Garland who refuses to be ignored, though in his cat and mouse game they may both lose their hearts.

Dr. Charlotte Stone sees what others do not. And she sees the Boardwalk Killer coming for her.

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

I will confess I was very curious about this book because I read some reviews where people were foaming at the mouth over the romantic storyline. I won't spoil much (it gets revealed very early in the book) by telling you that the spirit who helps/stalks Dr. Stone is a man convicted for killing several women. Reading the reviews I was curious how Robards pulls it off to make Garland, a ghost and a supposed killer, a romantic interest.

And I think she does a great job!

Honestly: the rocky relationship between Charlie and Garland is the best part of this book.

The whole murder mystery didn't really impress me, I will confess. Not that it was bad, it certainly had potential, but the pacing of it was slow and I didn't feel invested. Whenever Garland appeared however the story got interesting. He's a difficult, boarish person, who just barely manages to stay on the good side of likeable, but he's a perfect fit for Charlie, who's just as difficult. The chemistry between the two of them was what kept the story going for me, and what kept me reading til the end.

Overall this was a pleasant read and I might read the next book in series if I run into it. And I have another book by Robards in my tbr-pile, so I will definitely give that a try.

Why should you read it:
It's a pleasant Paranormal Murder Mystery