Burn Bright - Book Review

Burn Bright (Alpha & Omega #5)
by Patricia Briggs

What is it about:
They are the wild and the broken. The werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. For their own good, they have been exiled to the outskirts of Aspen Creek, Montana. Close enough to the Marrok’s pack to have its support; far enough away to not cause any harm.

With their Alpha out of the country, Charles and Anna are on call when an SOS comes in from the fae mate of one such wildling. Heading into the mountainous wilderness, they interrupt the abduction of the wolf–but can’t stop blood from being shed. Now Charles and Anna must use their skills–his as enforcer, hers as peacemaker–to track down the attackers, reopening a painful chapter in the past that springs from the darkest magic of the witchborn...

What did I think of it:
It took me some time to get into the story I will confess. It wasn't until Anna teams up with Asil to visit one of the wildlings that I connected. This may have more to do with me and the trouble I have at concentrating on reading at the moment than the story though.

I did like that Leah got more depth. She used to be just bitchy, now you understand why she's bitchy and can add petty to her list of negative qualities. She's turning more and more into a character you love to hate.

There was one thing I started to suspect very early in the story, and that came true. That aside this is an enjoyable story that further expands the world these books are set in. I liked learning more about the wildlings as well.

Although not my favorite book in this series it's a good addition to the series. I'm curious what will happen next.

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


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On McPig's Wishlist - A Curse So Dark and Lonely

A Curse So Dark and Lonely
by Brigid Kemmerer

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.


Expected publication: January 29th 2019

Dawn - Book Review

Dawn: A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (The Frankenstein Saga Book 3)
by Merrie Destefano

What is it about:
A broken heart. An infamous holiday gone wrong. A deadly curse brought to life.

A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecroft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Byron to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.

The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead. But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins.

In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written. What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.

What did I think of it:
This is the last book in a series of novellas. The first set mood and atmosphere, the second raised the stakes, and this on is the thrilling climax of the story.

Mary and her friends are in serious danger. The sangsue are hunting them and have special plans for Mary. When tragedy strikes choices have to made, and an escape will have to be attempted.

This is a very fitting conclusion in my opinion. It's full of action, horror, heartbreak, and difficult decisions. I feared for my favorite character and for Mary. As things get more dire it was hard to see how things would end. Would there be an escape, or would Mary make different choices.

All in all a great read. I will definitely reread this series of novellas when I'm in the mood for some Gothic horror.

Why should you read it:
It's action packed Gothic horror.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Shattered Souls

"You're mine," a disembodied male voice said from behind him. I swiveled to the side, pulling out of Zak's reach.

(page 49, Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey)


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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 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!

Future Lost - Book Review

Future Lost (Future Shock #3)
by Elizabeth Briggs

What is it about:
It’s been a year since Elena and Adam were first recruited by Aether Corporation and six months since they destroyed the accelerator, finally putting an end to Project Chronos and their involvement with Aether. Now they’re trying to move on with their lives. Elena’s in college and Adam is working on making genicote, his cure for cancer, safe for the public.

But genicote has become a dangerous fixation for Adam. He’ll do anything to figure it out, and when he goes missing, Elena realizes that he’s done the unthinkable: he went to Aether for help with the cure. To Elena’s horror, she discovers that Aether has created a new accelerator. Adam betrayed her trust and has traveled into the future to find the fix for his cure, but he didn’t come back when he was supposed to. Desperate to find him, Elena decides to risk future shock and time travels once more.

This future is nothing like they’ve seen before. Someone has weaponized Adam’s cure and created a dangerous pandemic, leading to the destruction of civilization. If Elena can’t find Adam and stop this, everyone is at risk. And someone will do anything to keep her from succeeding.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first two books in this trilogy, so pre-ordered this book so I could get my trotters on it as soon as it released.

And this is a really cool conclusion to the trilogy.

The time travelling is again not perfect. The way they travel through time is only possible if they're not only time traveling, but also traveling between different dimensions, but they never act or say anything that confirms this. And yes: I know, I'm a complete nerd when it comes to time travel. I want it to fit. Maybe it's a good thing though, that the characters in this story don't realize they're dimensional time travelers. Especially Elena with her perfect recall would probably go insane if she knew.

That aside I loved this story.

This time when Elena travels to the future she ends up in a post apocalyptic world. If I have one complaint it's that her time there was much too short in my opinion. She has to hunt down Adam and get back to her present to save the future.

I was gripped from the start and read this book in one sitting. It was just too cool to put down, even with the dimensional time travel not being acknowledged. As the story unfolded I began to get my suspicions as to what was going on, and couldn't wait to find out if I was right, and how Elena was going to fix things.

I will confess I would have liked to see a different ending than I got, but even so I was satisfied enough. All in all thi is a really great trilogy, and i will most certainly reread it.

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome YA read with time traveling.


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Dusk - Book Review

Dusk: A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (The Frankenstein Saga Book 2)
by Merrie Destefano

What is it about:
A broken heart. An infamous holiday gone wrong. A deadly curse brought to life.

A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecroft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Bryon to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.

The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead.

But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins. In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written.

What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.

A relentless winter has driven the sangsue down from the Swiss Alps. They’re hungry, they’re soulless, and they were once human.

And one of them in particular, the King of the Sangsue, has been searching for someone like Mary for centuries. All it will take is one bite and she will be his forever…

Beware: There are monsters in this book; some of them are charming and some of them are devious, but every single one of them is deadly and would love to steal your heart.

What did I think of it:
The first book in this series of novellas ended with quite the cliffhanger, so I picked up this novella as soon as I could.

And there is a lot of action, drama, and suspense in this novella. Where the first novella slowly set the atmosphere and mood this one is raising the stakes and our heroine and her friends are in peril.

I was on the edge of my seat, and couldn't stop reading. Would Mary manage to keep herself and the others safe or would she be succumb to the dark temptation of the Sangsue?

Again this book leaves you hungry for more, so you bet I'll be reading the last book soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a thrilling Gothic horror.


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On McPig's Wishlist - Berserker

Berserker (Berserker #1)
by Emmy Laybourne

Are Hanne's powers a gift from the old Norse gods, or a curse?

Her brother Stieg swears their powers are a gift from the old gods, but Hanne Hemstad knows she is truly cursed. It's not Stieg's fault that their father is dead, their mother has left, and their brother Knut has been accused of a crime he didn't commit.

No, the fault lies with Hanne and her inability to control her murderous "gift"--she is a Berserker. When someone she loves is threatened, she flies into a killing state. The siblings must leave Norway for the American frontier or risk being brought to justice.

Aided by a young cowboy who agrees to be their guide, Hanne and her siblings use their powers to survive the perilous trail, where blizzards, wild animals, and vicious bounty hunters await.

Will they be able to reach their uncle, the one man Hanne believes may be able to teach her how to control her drive to kill? With Berserker, Emmy Laybourne, the author of Monument 14, presents her vision of an American west studded with Viking glory.


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Red Sister - Book Review

Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor #1)
by Mark Lawrence

What is it about:
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.

But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.

Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive…

What did I think of it:
Novices trained to become killer nuns? Count me in!

Yes, the premise of killer nuns and the fact that it's a sort of boarding school story sold me on this book. And luckily it didn't disappoint.

Nona is both relatable and an unreliable narrator and I was hooked from the start. It was fun to read about the training the girls got, and to discover more about Nona and her past. Next to a more sinister plot there's lots of rivalry and teenage pettiness going on, so there isn't a dull moment in this book.

The worldbuilding left me with a few questions. It clearly hints that the people in this world arrived on spaceships. Still they seem to live in a Medieval world. Where did all the technology and knowledge of that technology go? I'll have to read the whole series to see if it is explained, I'm afraid.

That aside I very much enjoyed this book, so I'll be getting my trotters on book two once it's available in paperback.

Why should you read it:
Killer nuns!


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Teaser Tuesdays - Burn Bright

He looked around again. Breathed in again. Then he shook his head. "I dont know. Something."

(page 37, Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs)


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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 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!

Shade - Book Review

Shade: A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (The Frankenstein Saga Book 1)
by Merrie Destefano

What is it about:
A broken heart. An infamous holiday gone wrong. A deadly curse brought to life.

A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecroft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Bryon to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.

The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead.

But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins. In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written.

What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.

What did I think of it:
This is the first in a series of three novellas by Merrie Destefano. I love Destefano's writing, so you bet I jumped at the chance to get hold of an ARC of all three novellas.

This first novella is beautiful.

Destefano is a master at setting atmosphere and mood so I was soon engrossed in the story. Destefano managed to give the story a Gothic feel and I loved the building tension and otherness. Slowly you get to know more about all the people at the villa and slowly things shift from suspenseful to sinister.

The story is told from Mary's point of view, and I connected with her easily. The only thing I didn't get was why she is still engaged to Percy, whom I didn't like at all, but there were hints of a dark secret that might hold them bound together.

At the end of this novella things are seriously going wrong, and the ending is quite the cliffhanger. You bet I'll be reading the next novella soon, because I need to know what's next.

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


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Dragon Age RPG Core Rulebook - Review

Dragon Age RPG Core Rulebook
by Green Ronin

What is it about:
The Dragon Age RPG brings Thedas to your tabletop!

Now you can experience BioWare's rich and engaging world in a classic pen & paper roleplaying game. This new Core Rulebook combines the rules and background of the original game under one cover for the first time, and adds a brand new adventure as well.

The game system is easy to learn and play, and the book is packed with lore from the world of Thedas. Dragon Age also features an innovative stunt system that keeps combat and spellcasting tense and exciting.

So gather your friends, grab some dice, and get ready to enter a world of mages and templars, of Grey Wardens and darkspawn, of gods and demons ... the world of Dragon Age!

What did I think of it:
Some of you might know I'm pretty much addicted to the computer game Dragon Age. When I discovered there's a tabletop rpg of Dragon Age as well, I had to get the book.

And this is a great book for those into roleplaying games.

This book combines both the Player's Guide and the Game Master's Guide, so with this one book you have everything you need to play the game. I liked that the game uses standard 6 sided dice, so people new to roleplaying don't need to go out to find special dice. (I myself got a set of special Dragon Age dice from a friend, I'll add: 6 sided dice with special colors and pictures on them. Not needed, but fun!)

There are three basic classes like in the computer game (warrior, rogue, mage), but there are lots of different backgrounds to chose from, all with their own abilities and traits, so the customization of the characters is more than adequate.


The rules seem easy, with some extra rules you could add if you want things to be more challenging.

Next to the character creation and the rules, there are chapters about the world, the history of the world, adventures you can play, and lots of tips on how to roleplay. I myself have been playing all different kinds of roleplaying games for over 20 years, but the way things are explained make that this is a great book for people new to roleplaying games.

There's also lots of cool artwork to give you an idea of how the world and the people in it looks.

All in all this is a great book and I can't wait to convince my friends to give this system and world a try.

Why should you read it:
If you love roleplaying games, or love Fantasy and want to give roleplaying a chance, this is your book!


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Teasing on a Thursday - Red Sister

"You're not a nun!" Nona wrenched her hand away. "And you let them kill Saida!"

(page 19, Red Sister by Mark Lawrence)


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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 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!

The Palace Job - Book Review

The Palace Job (Rogues of the Republic #1)
by Patrick Weekes

What is it about:
The most powerful man in the republic framed her, threw her in prison, and stole a priceless elven manuscript from her family.

With the help of a crack team that includes an illusionist, a unicorn, a death priestess, a talking warhammer, and a lad with a prophetic birthmark, Loch must find a way into the floating fortress of Heaven's Spire–and get past the magic-hunting golems and infernal sorcerers standing between her and the vault that holds her family's treasure.

It'd be tricky enough without the military coup and unfolding of an ancient evil prophecy–but now the determined and honourable Justicar Pyvic has been assigned to take her in.

But hey, every plan has a few hitches.

What did I think of it:
Patrick Weekes is one of the writers of my favorite games: Mass Effect and Dragon Age. He also wrote one of the tie in Dragon Age novels - The Masked Empire. High time for me to read one of his other books.

And this is a really fun Fantasy heist story!

There's the smart heroine Loch and her trusty sidekick Kail. At the start of the book they escape from prison and then start building a team to pull off an impossible seeming heist.

I loved Loch and the team she puts together. They're all super talented of course, and succeed easily at challenging tasks, but that's all part of the charm of this particular genre in my opinion. I also really liked the Justicar who had to find Loch and arrest her again.

Apart from the Justicar and Loch and her team, there are some other parties at work. There's the mark of course, and the head of the prison Loch escaped from among others. I didn't really get why the head of the prison hated Loch that much, but his attempts to get back at Loch for escaping did add to the suspense of the story.

Next to this being a cool and suspenseful heist story, there's also a lot of humor in this book. The antics and conversations of Loch's team were really fun to read. I was hooked in no time and kept reading to see how they were going to pull off their heist and where things might go wrong.

All in all a fun and cool read. I'll most probably get my trotters on the next book in this series soon.

Why should you read it:
It's very entertaining Fantasy heist story.


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The Reluctant Queen - Book Review

The Reluctant Queen (The Queens of Renthia #2)
by Sarah Beth Durst

What is it about:
Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .
And those spirits want to kill you.
It’s the first lesson that every Renthian learns.

Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the peace and protected the humans of her land. But now for all her power, she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. And if she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her beloved realm will run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people.

Naelin is one such person, and she couldn’t be further removed from the Queen—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her world is her two children, her husband, and the remote village tucked deep in the forest that is her home, and that’s all she needs. But when Ven, the Queens champion, passes through the village, Naelin’s ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife’s ability to control spirits—magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows that if the truth of her abilities is known, it will bring only death and separation from those she loves.

But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. He did it once when he discovered Daleina, and he’s certain he’s done it again. Yet for all his appeals to duty, Naelin is a mother, and she knows her duty is to her children first and foremost. Only as the Queen’s power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened—even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north—does she realize that the best way to keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.

What did I think of it:
I loved The Queen of Blood, so I made sure to get my trotters on the paperback of The Reluctant Queen.

And even though I never got to love Naelin as much as I love Daleina this is a really good Fantasy read.

The worldbuilding is wonderful, and the intrigues in this book kept me reading. Naelin might not have won my love, but I rooted for Daleina and for Ven. I had my doubts when it became clear Naelin's children had a bigger part in the story than I thought when reading the blurb, but they luckily weren't as annoying as I feared (yes: I'm not a big fan of children in SFF books).

All in all this is a very enjoyable read that ends in a way that I will most definitely buy the last book once it is available in paperback.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Fantasy read full of intrigue.


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The Snows of Windroven - Release Day Alert

Out now!


The Snows of Windroven
by Jeffe Kennedy

A new power is at work in the Twelve Kingdoms, unbalancing the fragile peace. For the High Queen and her sisters, it might mean a new alliance—or the end of the love of a lifetime…

As a howling blizzard batters the mountain keep of Windroven, Ami, Queen of Avonlidgh, and her unofficial consort Ash face their own storm. Their passion saved them from despair, but Ash knows a scarred, jumpy ex-convict isn’t the companion his queen needs. He’s been bracing himself for the end since their liaison began. When it finally comes, the shattering of his heart is almost a relief.

With a man haunted by nightmares and silent as stone, Ami knows only that Ash’s wounds are his own to hide or reveal. She can’t command trust. But just as they are moving apart, a vicious attack confines them together, snowbound and isolated with an ancient force awakening within Windroven itself. If they truly mean to break their bond, Ami and Ash must first burn through a midwinter that will test every instinct—and bring temptation all too near…


Previously published in the anthology Amid the Winter Snow


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American Panda - Book Review

American Panda
by Gloria Chao

What is it about:
At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

What did I think of it:
I was intrigued by the blurb of this book and even though it was only available as a hardcover I decided to give it a try.

And this is a wonderful read.

Mei wants to please her parents and stay on their good side, but their expectations are high and they want a future for her that she herself is not sure about. As she tries to settle in to college life she feels like an outsider, while at the same time she tries to shake herself lose from her traditional background and find her own place in the world.

I do not claim to understand how it must be to grow up as a child of immigrants, trapped between two cultures. I did however grow up in a small village where my parents moved to when I was a baby, and were still seen as 'the new ones' when I was seventeen. So on that front I could really relate with Mei: feeling like an outsider and feeling weird, although I'm pretty sure my experiences were a lot less intense as they can be for children of immigrants.

I could really understand why Mei has a hard time telling her parents how she feels. The lies she tells them, the omissions, might seem unwise, but it's hard to disappoint the people you want to love you and be proud of you. I rooted for Mei to find a way to be happy.

The romance in the book is cute and slow. It's more one of the catalysts for Mei's change and growth than that it is the focus of the book. I still very much enjoyed the scenes between Mei and Darren.

All in all this is a beautiful and touching story that is recognizable for everyone who's ever felt like an outsider, or has struggled with the expectations of their family. You bet I'll keep an eye out for the next book by Chao.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful story about finding your identity.


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On McPig's Wishlist - Beasts Made of Night

Beasts Made of Night (Beasts Made of Night #1)
by Tochi Onyebuchi

In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts – lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt.

Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but 17-year-old Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family.

When Taj is called to eat a sin of a royal, he’s suddenly thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy Kos. Now Taj must fight to save the princess that he loves – and his own life.

A gritty Nigerian-influenced fantasy.


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Silence Fallen - Book Review

Silence Fallen (Mercy Thompson #10)
by Patricia Briggs

What is it about:
Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...

Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...

What did I think of it:
In January I finally caught up on this series, so when this book arrived I made sure to not let it linger on my shelves as long as Fire Touched.

And this is an entertaining read.

I will confess that the vampires are my least favorite supernaturals in this series, so I was glad Mercy escaped and encountered all other kinds of trouble on her journey. I liked the inclusion of Prague and how Briggs used its history and folklore.

The book follows both Mercy and Adam. As Adam is neck deep in vampire politics, his storyline was less interesting than Mercy's.

The one thing that annoyed me was the "Americans are better than Europeans" sentiment in Adam's storyline. That aside this is a fun addition to the series. You bet I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book.

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


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Teaser Tuesdays - The Hazel Wood

I was ten the first time I saw the book. Small enough for a pocket and bound in green hardback, its cover embossed in gold.

(page 17, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert)


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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 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!

Shooting Star - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Shooting Star
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
Not all desires are shiny and sweet—and the dark ones might change you forever…

It’s not the kind of obsession a tough Army guy can admit to—a jones for Ava, the pretty-princess pop star. Not just her body, the perfect product that sells all those magazines. Her music.

The critics call her human lip gloss, all style and no substance. To Joe Ivanchan, Ava is the exact blend of reality and fantasy that he can tolerate, the closest he’s willing to get to giving his heart after the injury and breakdown that got him out of the service.
But Ava is real. She’s a flesh and blood woman with a publicity machine and an album deadline, along with a whole team of handlers paid to shellac a pristine sheen over a damaged, desperate soul. A woman with fears, with secrets, with desires.

When Joe finds himself in an interview to join her security team as her driver, his instinct is to get away. But the woman behind Ava’s carefully focus-grouped image is even harder to walk away from. The angry needs tormenting her speak to something within Joe. Something empathetic, protective—and primal…

Besides, even a falling star can light up the darkest night.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This book is different from Jeffe's other Contemporary Romances in that it's a lot darker and tackles some pretty serious themes.

That said: I love it with all my heart!

Joe has been through hell and there was only one thing that made him hold on: Ava and her music. Some may see Joe's obsession as stalkerish, I myself recognized so much in how Joe feels. I've had times that I felt really bad, and when there was just this one song, this one special book, or movie that kept my grounded, or that told me things would get better if I just held on. At the start of the book Ava is that one thing that kept Joe grounded, and then he meets her and gets to know the real Ava.

Ava is just as damaged as Joe, if in another way. She's been in the spotlights from a very young age and that has taken its toll. She made mistakes, trusted the wrong people, and feels trapped in the persona she has become. Joe is the first person in a long time who isn't hand picked to cater to what people think she needs.

The romance between these two isn't an easy one. Both have issues and traumas to work through before they can even think of being there for someone else. But seeing them try, seeing them open up, and realize there is a better future possible, is so beautiful. I rooted for them to break the chains that keep them shackled to their past and to grow and heal.

All in all this is a beautiful and emotional romance about two damaged people who find each other and learn how to heal and move on.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful dark Contemporary Romance


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A Princess in Theory - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1)
by Alyssa Cole

What is it about:
Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
In my search for fun Contemporary Romances this cover drew my eye, and the blurb sounded too good to resist.

And this is indeed a very fun Contemporary Romance.

I really liked Naledi and could only too well understand why she deletes the emails telling her she's engaged to an African prince. Then Thabiso shows up at the restaurant where she works part-time and she mistakes him for the new waiter.

Thabiso is a really great guy, but he is bad at handling life and love. His attempts to get to know Naledi and to tell her who he is are terrible, but also adorable. I could understand why Naledi, who's usually very guarded, opens up for him. I had a great time reading how the two of them fell in love.

Some of the things happening in this book where predictable of course, but I didn't mind. I was having fun with this book, and that can be more important than originality.

The one thing that didn't work for me was a storyline near the end of the book that was a bit out there in my opinion. Again it was easy to see what was going on, but at the same time it felt unbelievable. That aside though, I very much enjoyed this romance and will see what other books Alyssa Cole has written.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and enjoyable Contemporary Romance.


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TBR Orphan Update

In February I only managed to read one Orphaned book: Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop. There were just too many newly arrived books that wanted attention. We will see how I do in March.

How did your challenges go?


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