TBR Orphans - February Update

I've read three orphaned books this month. Last year I read 4 orphaned books in February, so it seems that for some reason February is a good month for me to pick up those neglected books.

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh has been on my shelves since July 2014 (I bought it even earlier than that, but it made a trip to Berlin to get signed).

Storm by Amanda Sun was overlooked since July 2015, when it arrived together with many other cool new books.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard has also been on my shelves since July 2015. It seems there are lot of July Orphans...

All in all a good month!

How did your challenges go?

Birdwoman - Book Review

Birdwoman
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
A true story of a paranormal encounter from award-winning fantasy author Jeffe Kennedy.

What did I think of it:
This short story is available both as ebook and as an audio book. I don't often listen to audio books, but I had the opportunity to give the audio book of Birdwoman a try, and I took it. It's being narrated by Jeffe Kennedy herself.

And let me tell you: this is a very enjoyable (audio) book. Jeffe's story telling weaves a mood and atmosphere that draws you into a spooky and creepy world where scary beings can get to you. This being a true story makes it even creepier. Jeffe's narration in the audio book fits the story perfectly in my opinion. I was hooked from the start.

I can recommend this story to fans of Jeffe's writing and to everyone who is looking for an atmospheric and slightly creepy read.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable read and/or listen.


Find buy links here

On McPig's Wishlist - Flashfall

Flashfall
by Jenny Moyer

Orion does not intend to spend the rest of her life down Tunnel 9. It is her duty as a subpar to mine—as it has been for all subpars, ever since the radioactive flash curtain fell, nearly destroying all life. Orion, the most gifted of the miners, knows she can earn her ticket out and into the protected city of Alara with 400 grams of cirium, the only element that prevents radiation sickness.

But everything is not as it seems. When Orion learns a truth that challenges all she's ever known, she embarks on a quest for something far more precious than cirium: freedom. Along with Dram, her caving partner and the boy she might love, Orion sets out on a mission of rebellion and survival.


Expected publication: November 15th 2016

Public Enemies - To DNF or not to DNF

Public Enemies (Immortal Game #2)
by Ann Aguirre

What is it about:
Learn the rules of the game…and then play better than anyone else.

Through a Faustian bargain, Edie Kramer has been pulled into the dangerous world of the Immortal Game, where belief makes your nightmares real. Hungry for sport, fears-made-flesh are always raising the stakes. To them, human lives are less than nothing, just pieces on a board.

Because of her boyfriend Kian’s sacrifice, she’s operating under the mysterious Harbinger’s aegis, but his patronage could prove as fatal as the opposition. Raw from deepest loss, she’s terrified over the deal Kian made for her. Though her very public enemies keep sending foot soldiers—mercenary monsters committed to her destruction—she’s not the one playing under a doom clock. Kian has six months…unless Edie can save him. And this is a game she can’t bear to lose.

Why I'm struggling:
First: I love almost all books by Ann Aguirre that I've read. Especially her Razorland Trilogy is amazing!

I also really liked the first book in this series, and I was over the moon when I received an ARC of Public Enemies last year.

And I still haven't finished it...

I want to love this book, but instead I struggle to get through it, putting it aside to read other books in between, picking it up again, etc. There's lots of things going on in this book, but still it feels slow.

That it feels like a slow and even passive story is mainly because so far (I'm almost halfway through) it feels like Edie is not acting, but reacting. Things happen and Edie reacts. I find myself wanting her to take control and do something proactive.

I'm at the point that I'm asking myself: should I keep reading and hope that Edie will act, or shall I give up? If this was a book by a 'new to me author' I would most probably have given up by now, but because Aguirre is one of my 'preorder as soon as you can' authors I keep trying, hoping to fall in love with this book as I have with her other books.

Most probably I will keep struggling until I either find the flow of this book or reach the end. I'm hoping it will be the first, because there are a lot of intriguing things to this story.

How about you:
Read this book and can tell me if I should read on? Or had similar experience with another book?

Teaser Tuesdays - Wickedly Dangerous

"Oh, shut up," Baba muttered. Nobody gave her enough credit for being bloodthirsty. She yanked open the door and said in an unwelcoming tone, "What?" But the space in front of the Airstream was empty.

(page 65, Wickedly Dangerous by Deborah Blake)




===

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!

Red Queen - Book Rant

Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
by Victoria Aveyard

What is it about:
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...

What did I think of it:
*ranty review with spoilers for love interests*

I really liked the world building and the developing story line about the Reds vs. the Silvers. There are also some really interesting and intriguing characters.

However: I did not like Mare.

Mare is a whiny little girl, complaining that her parents love her sister more, because her sister has a job, and all Mare can do is steal. Message to Mare: "You can do more, but I don't think you're actually willing to try! You're too busy feeling sorry for yourself, and with managing the lives of your friends instead of you own."

And then there are the love interests!

We have boy nobody, who has been pining over Mare his whole life, but who Mare sees as her personal project, managing his life so she won't have to think too much about fixing her own misery. He's growing a backbone and might be salvageable in future books. Let's hope he runs miles away from Mare when he comes to his senses.

Then there's whiner boy: he and Mare are actually a perfect match, he's also feeling sorry for himself, because his brother is important and he himself is too whiny to actually make something out of himself.

And there's the smart, considerate one, who sadly enough isn't smart enough to see Mare for what she is. Let's hope he'll get even smarter and runs off together with boy nobody, so Mare and whiner boy can whine happily ever after.

So yes: all the personal drama really annoyed me! That I finished the book had largely to do with the setting, the side characters and the overall story. And I also kept hoping Mare would redeem herself.

I'm not sure if I will read the next book in this series. I expect more whining and love square drama, but I'm also curious how the class struggle will play out. I might eventually pick it up when it's on sale somewhere.

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

Til The World Ends - Book Review (repost)

'Til The World Ends
by Julie Kagawa, Aguirre, Karen Duvall
Anthology

What is it about:
Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa:
Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden-as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What's worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she's beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems....

Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre:
After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside-in the Red Zone-is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they'll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside...for good.

Sun Storm by Karen Duvall:
Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms-in the cosmos and beyond. And she's not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She'll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.

What did I think of it:
Because this books contains three stories, I'll give my thoughts about each separate story.

Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa:
I liked this story.
The world building was done very well and the story was pretty intense. Especially the start of the story was very disturbing and creepy. I liked Kagawa's writing and I was hooked from the start. Near the ending the story lost its momentum and appeal to me, but the action scenes made up for that. Overall this was an enjoyable story and I'm tempted to pick up The Immortal Rules, the first book in the Blood of Eden series for which this story is the prequel.

Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre:
I totally bought this book because it had a story by Ann Aguirre and I'm happy to say that Thistle & Thorne it just as cool as I had hoped it would be. Mari Thistle is a character I could relate to and I really liked how she doesn't immediately swoon all over Thorne, who's a definite 'bad boy'. Instead she is on her guard and knows just how dangerous Thorne can be. Thorne was a really cool character as well and I loved reading about how the two of them have to rely on each other and learn to trust each other to get things done. I fell in love with this story and hope Aguirre will write more stories about Thistle and Thorne.

Sun Storm by Karen Duvall:
This was a nice enough story, but it wasn't for me.
Duvall went for the Doomsday scenario where all of humankind will perish if the lead characters of the story don't succeed. I'm not a big fan of total doom stories and that's why this story fell short for me. The writing was pleasant though, so I might try another book by Duvall sometime.

In conclusion: This is a really enjoyable book that I can recommend to anyone who loves post-apocalyptic settings.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool collection of post-apocalyptic stories

On McPig's Wishlist - The Stolen Throne

Yup, I still need to complete my Dragon Age collection ;-)


The Stolen Throne (Dragon Age #1)
by David Gaider

After his mother, the beloved Rebel Queen, is betrayed and murdered by her own faithless lords, young Maric becomes the leader of a rebel army attempting to free his nation from the control of a foreign tyrant.

His countrymen live in fear; his commanders consider him untested; and his only allies are Loghain, a brash young outlaw who saved his life, and Rowan, the beautiful warrior maiden promised to him since birth. Surrounded by spies and traitors, Maric must find a way to not only survive but achieve his ultimate destiny: Ferelden’s freedom and the return of his line to the stolen throne.

City of Light - Book Review

City of Light (Outcast #1)
by Keri Arthur

What is it about:
When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between this world and the next, they allowed entry to the Others—demons, wraiths, and death spirits who turned the shadows into their hunting grounds. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the darkness at bay....

As a déchet—a breed of humanoid super-soldiers almost eradicated by the war—Tiger has spent her life in hiding. But when she risks her life to save a little girl on the outskirts of Central City, she discovers that the child is one of many abducted in broad daylight by a wraith-like being—an impossibility with dangerous implications for everyone on earth.

Because if the light is no longer enough to protect them, nowhere is safe...

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

I liked the world building, but I must confess at times I wished this story had taken place during the war instead of long after it. From what was mentioned about the war it sounded very intriguing and would have been a perfect setting for an action-packed story.

Still the current setting was interesting as well, and I liked Tiger and her ghosts. All other characters: not so much! This is what made it difficult to connect with the story. If I'd been Tiger I'd given everyone the finger, especially after one particular event.

Still the story and setting were cool enough to keep reading and the ending was satisfying enough that I might pick up the next book when it releases.

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

Teaser Tuesdays - Red Queen

Not sure about this one yet. we'll see how it develops.


"I'm truly sorry for you, Mare. Things shouldn't be like this."
I can't even summon the strength to frown. "There are worse lives to live. Don't feel sorry for me."

(Page 47, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard)



===

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!

Zom-B Mission - Book Review

Zom-B Mission (Zom-B #7)
by Darren Shan

What is it about:
B Smith and the other Angels are relieved to finally receive their first mission to safely escort a group of human survivors from the zombie-infested streets of London to New Kirkham, a barricaded safe haven in the country. But after battling through crowds of undead monsters, B discovers that the survivors of the town do not necessarily represent the best of humanity. And when evil influences make their way to New Kirkham, unearthing demons from B s past, the humans will be forced to choose between being honorable and being safe.

Darren Shan continues his adventures of a teenage zombie trying to right the wrongs of a flawed human life, exploring the morality and ills of society through the lens of an apocalypse gone wrong and a terrifying hell on earth reigning."

What did I think of it:
After a filler adventure the story is moving forward again.

B is a bit slow to catch on to some clues in my opinion, and I must say my sympathy is shifting from B to Rage, a revived B doesn't really like. This has largely to do with the fact that B is a bit too gullible at times, and Rage at least is still thinking for himself, even though he's a bit of a jerk. I'm hoping B will shape up and get her edge back.

The story is cool and with some unexpected events. The ending is quite the cliffhanger, so I'll have to get my trotters on the next book soon.

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

Storm - Book Review

Storm (Paper Gods #3)
by Amanda Sun

What is it about:
After almost a year in Japan, Katie Greene has finally unearthed the terrible secret behind her boyfriend Tomohiro's deadly ability to bring drawings to life—not only is he descended from Kami, the ancient Japanese gods, but he is the heir to a tragedy that occurred long ago, a tragedy that is about to repeat.

Even as the blood of a vengeful god rages inside Tomo, Katie is determined to put his dark powers to sleep. In order to do so, she and Tomo must journey to find the three Imperial Treasures of Japan. Gifts from the goddess Amaterasu herself, these treasures could unlock all of the secrets about Tomo's volatile ancestry and quell the ink's lust for destruction. But in order to complete their quest, Tomo and Katie must confront out-of-control Kami and former friend Jun, who has begun his own quest of revenge against those he believes have wronged him. To save the world, and themselves, Katie and Tomo will be up against one of the darkest Kami creations they've ever encountered—and they may not make it out alive.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first two books in this series and actually pre-ordered this book, but it arrived amidst a lot of other new books, so somehow it ended up being overlooked until recently.

This is a really cool conclusion to the trilogy!

Tomo and Katie both have grown a lot compared to how they were in the first book. I rooted for them to find a way to solve their problems. The mythology is interesting and had me eager to find out more as well.

I was a little disappointed that the friends Katie made in the first book were almost absent in book two and this book as well. Tomo's best friend does get more screentime and I loved his scenes, I will confess. He's a bit of a thug, but a likeable one.

There are some really intense and action-packed events, and I had a hard time putting the book down. This is a really gripping read.

The ending is very satisfying and I'll most certainly reread this trilogy in the future. I'll also keep an eye out for Sun's next release.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Paranormal YA set in Japan.

The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet - Promo Post

The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet

Genre: YA Contemporary

Published by Entangled Teen

To be released February 1st, 2016

Goodreads Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26877648-the-secret-to-letting-go

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682810704

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-to-letting-go-kathleen-fleet/1123170247

iTunes Buy Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-to-letting-go/id1073591332

Kobo Buy Link: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-secret-to-letting-go

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704

Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704

Entangled Page: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-secret-to-letting-go/

One summer can change everything…

Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.

Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.

 

About the Author:



Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and wonderful friends in Curaçao. She is also a very thankful breast cancer survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at www.KatherineFleet.com.

Author Website: www.KatherineFleet.com

Author Twitter: @KatherineFleet

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatherineFleet/

Author Instagram: @katherine_fleet

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14439407.Katherine_Fleet

Newsletter: www.KatherineFleet.com

Excerpt:

 

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow at noon?”

She nodded so hard, her teeth probably rattled. “I’d like that.”

It wasn’t like we were arranging a date, so why did her enthusiasm make me straighten up and puff out my chest? “We can meet at the beach next to the pier. My friends and I’ll be surfing. You bring the preserves, and I’ll bring the stove.”

Uncertainty flickered across her face, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

I should have used her reluctance to back out, but instead I reassured her. “We won’t be hard to find. We’re just north of the pier, and this way we can meet on neutral territory.”

Her expression turned blank.

“You know…in case I’m secretly a serial killer. There’s always safety in numbers.”

Her lips twitched upward, and she laughed. The sound tinkled through the air like wind chimes on a breezy day. “I already know you’re not a bad person.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nodded. Her unwavering stare made me want to squirm in my shoes. “True evil can never be hidden. It’s always there, if you know where to look. When I look at you, I see only good things.”

I snatched my gaze away from hers and tugged at the collar of my shirt. I wanted to know how she could talk with such authority on the subject. I wanted to know what evil she’d seen, but I wanted even more to escape the narrow store aisle. Warning bells pealed in my brain. She’s crazy. Don’t get involved.

 

Giveaway Info: $25 Amazon Gift Card (US / Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Slave to Sensation - Book Review

Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1)
by Nalini Singh

What is it about:
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation" - the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion - and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities - or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation.

What did I think of it:
I love the Guild Hunter books by Nalini Singh, but the huge number of books in the Psy-Changeling series has put me off on starting it, even though I had this book (signed even) in my TBR pile.

But I finally decided to gather my courage and give this series a try.

And this is a really fun read.

This story is less gritty and not as intense as the Guild Hunter books, but that's not a bad thing. I liked the world building and the characters. As often happens in PNR series we're introduced to lots of side characters who'll get their own book further in the series. I can say I'm already curious about some of them.

Although there's a suspense storyline, the focus is on the romance between Lucas and Sascha (I think Sascha is a guy name, btw, so I wasn't a fan of it). I do hope we'll learn more about the Psy and their network in future books, I liked those parts of the suspense storyline the best.

All in all this is a really nice read. I got book two of this series for my birthday, so I'll be giving that a try soon as well.

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

Teaser Tuesdays - Zom-B Mission

Me and Rage, two of the same? Never in a million years!
At least... I don't think that we are.
God, I hope we're not!

(page 34, Zom-B Mission by Darren Shan)




===

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!

Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 - Book Review

Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 (Dragon Age Universe)
by David Gaider, Ben Gelinas, Mike Laidlaw, Dave Marshall (Editor) and Various Illustrators

What is it about:
For Dragon Age newcomers, this comprehensive volume brings you up to speed on everything you need to know about the regions, religions, monsters, magic, and more! For dedicated fans, never before have the secrets of BioWare's epic fantasy been revealed so completely and so compellingly!

* Filled with never-before-seen art by the creators of the games!

What did I think of it:
You've probably noticed by now I'm addicted to Dragon Age, so it can't come as a surprise I got my trotters on this source book.

And this is a really awesome book.

It has chapters on all the different countries in Thedas, their religion, races, etc. A lot of the things were already familiar to me, but it was really fun to read about it and get it fleshed out a bit more.

There are tons of beautiful illustrations as well, in various styles. I loved looking at those.



There's a timeline with important events on the bottom of the pages. It was interesting to learn more about the long history of Thedas. The one thing I must note is that if The Calling by David Gaider is canon (which it is according to himself and hints in DA Inquisition) there's one really big error in the timeline. (There are some other small errors in the book as well, but none so glaringly as that one.)


Errors aside: this book is a must have for fans of the Dragon Age games in my opinion. I most certainly will browse it regularly for the art and the fun articles on all the different aspects of the world of Thedas.

You can bet I'll get hold of volume 2 as well.

Why should you read it:
If you're a rpg geek and love Dragon Age, you need this book!

The Thirteen Hallows - Book Review

The Thirteen Hallows (Thirteen Hallows #1)
by Michael Scott and Colette Freedman

What is it about:
The Hallows. Ancient artifacts imbued with a primal and deadly power. But are they protectors of this world, or the keys to its destruction?

A gruesome murder in London reveals a sinister plot to uncover a two-thousand-year-old secret.

For decades, the Keepers guarded these Hallows, keeping them safe and hidden and apart from each other. But now the Keepers are being brutally murdered, their prizes stolen, the ancient objects bathed in their blood.

Now, only a few remain.

With her dying breath, one of the Keepers convinces Sarah Miller, a practical stranger, to deliver her Hallow—a broken sword with devastating powers—to her American nephew, Owen.

The duo quickly become suspects in a series of murders as they are chased by both the police and the sadistic Dark Man and his nubile mistress.

As Sarah and Owen search for the surviving Keepers, they unravel the deadly secret the Keepers were charged to protect. The mystery leads Sarah and Owen on a cat-and-mouse chase through England and Wales, and history itself, as they discover that the sword may be the only thing standing between the world… and a horror beyond imagining.

What did I think of it:
I found this hiding among the YA books, but the pricing immediately told me it couldn't be YA (And no: the back of the book didn't mention the nubile mistress). Why is it that YA books are usually more expensive than Adult books? Anyway: apparently this book is New Adult, but I can't say I noticed it.

That being said: it's a cool read.

It's very different from what I expected. I expected it to be more grounded in Fantasy, but apart from the Hallows and some supernatural things, this feels more like a mystery/thriller than Fantasy or even Urban Fantasy.

I will confess that fact threw me a bit, but once I got used to it I very much enjoyed the story.

The Hallows and their history are intriguing, and I could sympathize with Sarah, who gets swept up in things she doesn't know anything about. There are some dreams and flashbacks that slow the action down, but not annoyingly so.

The story seems a bit black and white, but this is the first book in a series, so maybe further in the series it will get different.

All in all I thought this was a fast and entertaining read. I might pick up the next book if I come across it.

Why should you read it:
It's a really enjoyable (paranormal) mystery/thriller

On McPig's Wishlist - Time of Death: Induction

This sounds cool, but it's a bit too expensive for me at the moment.


Time of Death: Induction
by Shana Festa

When no one or nowhere is safe, where do you go to escape the monsters?

In a few short days, 37 year old Emma Rossi’s hard work will finally pay off. She will don her cap and gown and graduate with a degree in nursing, but not before she loses her first patient and is confronted with a new reality. In Cape Coral, Florida, a storm approaches. The dead are coming back to life.

And they’re hungry.

Infection ravages the Eastern Seaboard with alarming speed while attempts to contain the spread of infection fail. Within days, a small pocket of panicked survivors are all that remain of civilization. Fighting to survive the zombie apocalypse alongside her husband Jake and their dog Daphne, Emma comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare.

Relying on snarky wit and sheer determination, she is forced to commit atrocious acts to protect her family and avoid joining the ranks of the undead.