Thursday, 31 March 2016

On Voodoo Bride's Wishlist - Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink

This sounds like a fun and cute read.


Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink (Pilgrims #1)
by Stephanie Kate Strohm


Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum.

But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted.

Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem.



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Of Monsters and Madness - Book Review


Of Monsters and Madness (Of Monsters and Madness #1)
by Jessica Verday


What is it about:
A romantic, historical retelling of classic Gothic horror featuring Edgar Allan Poe and his character Annabel Lee, from a New York Times best-selling author.

Summoned to her father's home in 1820's Philadelphia, a girl finds herself in the midst of a rash of gruesome murders in which he might be implicated. She is torn romantically between her father's assistants-one kind and proper, one mysterious and brooding-who share a dark secret and may have more to do with the violent events than they're letting on.


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

Verday used poems and stories by Edgar Allan Poe as extra inspiration for this YA retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

If you are an E.A. Poe fan and can't handle it when people take liberties with the truth you should probably avoid this book. For people who don't mind a little bit of history bending and enjoy retellings of classics, this is a fun read.

I liked Annabel and her maid. It's clear from the start that Annabel has something to hide, and even though she is the viewpoint character we're not told what it is. But that annoyance aside I very much enjoyed this book. There are no big surprises for those familiar with the original tale, but I don't read to be surprised.

All in all I can advice this to anyone looking for an entertaining historical YA read.

Why should you read it:
It's a very nice retelling of a classic.


Buy from amazon

Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Teaser Tuesdays - Flying Blind


A golden dragon held me in his grasp and there was nowhere else I wanted to be. This was exactly what I had wanted to happen.

(page 78, Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke)


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

===

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!

Monday, 28 March 2016

Tomes of the Dead: Anno Mortis - Book Review


Tomes of the Dead: Anno Mortis
by Rebecca Levene


What is it about:
Tomes of The Dead is a collection of some of the very best eyeball popping, gut munching, zombie fiction around, groaning with horror and excitement. Each book will explore the zombie genre in new and thrilling ways.

Join us in these worlds of the dead and remember to leave your sanity by the door 40 AD, Rome.

Slaves are disappearing, the bodies of the dead are being stolen and mysterious shipments arrive from Egypt in the dead of night. Behind it all are the powerful Cult of Isis, searching for a way to breach the barrier between life and death. The only people who can stop them are a gladiator, a slave and an over-sexed teenager - and a stranger who just may be a god.


What did I think of it:
I'm always on the lookout for cool zombie stories, so when I saw this book that combines zombies with ancient Rome I had to give it a try.

And when in the first chapter the lead characters are introduced, who are (with one exception) based on historical figures, I knew I made the right decision in picking this book up.

It is so much fun!

The zombie mayhem takes a while to start, but the story was so intriguing and cool that I didn't mind having to wait for the zombies to get really going. I will also confess that even though there are a couple of viewpoint characters, which I usually am not a fan of, that here it worked for me. I liked reading about all of them, and never felt like skimming to get to the good parts. All of it was good in my opinion.

Of course this is a zombie story, so it's more about the adventure, mayhem and action than the character development, so keep that in mind when you give this a try. Still I can tell you I really liked the characters, they sure made that I was invested in the story and wanted them to defeat the bad guys.

All in all this was a really cool and fun read. You can bet I'll be reading more by Levene. I'll also check out the other books in the Tomes of the Dead series.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool read filled with Roman zombies!


Buy from amazon

Thursday, 24 March 2016

On McPig's Wishlist - Struck


Struck (Phoebe Meadows #1)
by Amanda Carlson


When Phoebe Meadows gets struck by a strange light in the stockroom of Macy’s, life as she knows it flies out the window. As if being hit by lightning isn’t bad enough, she’s accosted in the subway by a man with a missing hand, arrives home to find a raven on her kitchen counter, and her neighbor, Ingrid, shows up dressed like a gladiator hell-bent on protecting her.

Before Ingrid can shuttle her to safety, Phoebe is kidnapped and tossed into one of the Nine Worlds where she’s quickly forced to come to terms with what she is: A valkyrie. The only problem is, she has no idea what that means.

After a narrow escape, she finds an unlikely ally in Loki’s son, Fenrir. Together the valkyrie and the wolf must battle their way back to New York City and reach the valkyrie stronghold where Ingrid is waiting for her. But with danger and obstacles at every turn, she might not live long enough to learn the full truth about who and what she really is...



Expected publication: May 24th 2016

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Dead Before Dying - Book Review


Dead Before Dying
by Kerry Schafer


What is it about:
In this supernatural thriller, shot through with biting wit, Maureen Keslyn checks herself in to Shadow Valley Manor to recuperate and rehabilitate from her last job. There, she runs afoul of the stern director and makes friends with some of the other residents, mostly older, all harboring either a secret or a grudge. With secrets of her own, like why she has her own Federal Agent checking up on her, and how she injured herself in the first place, Maureen fits right in, even as she sticks out like a thorn.

But Shadow Valley isn't just for rest. Maureen is working undercover, seeking to find and eradicate whatever forces are picking off the residents (and staff) at a grisly clip. With her resources dwindling one death at a time, and unnatural forces seething to rise up once more, Maureen's experience fighting the supernatural will be her only hope to destroy a clever and powerful evil and her only chance at surviving it.

She'll need people as paranoid as she is from the sheriff, to the undertaker's daughter, to a cook whose knife skills in the kitchen could prove deadly out of it if she is going to bring rest to the weary, and peace to the dead...


What did I think of it:
I love Kerry Schafer's The Between books (even though I still haven't read the last book, because I don't want the series to be over), so when I heard about this new series I had to get my trotters on it.

And this is an amazing read!

I loved Maureen from the start and once I read the first few pages I almost couldn't put it down. If not for the fact I had appointments to keep, I would have finished this book in one sitting, it's that engaging.

Maureen meets some really cool people, and some rather nasty people as well, but all were interesting. As one death after another happens I was totally invested in Maureen and her unlikely allies getting to the truth of things.

The writing and story are fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. There's also lots of humor to keep you entertained as well. I reached the ending of this book much too soon in my opinion. I want to read much, much more about Maureen.

Luckily there will most likely be a sequel, so I'll be keeping an eye out for that!

Why should you read it:
It's a witty and awesome Supernatural Thriller.


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Teaser Tuesdays - The Devil's Doorbell


Tonight, my name is Mary.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary. That calls for fiery red, steampunk crimson carved into long, perfect ringlets.

(page 78 of ARC, The Devil's Doorbell Anthology: Exact Warm Unholy by Jeffe Kennedy)


Releasing April 26, 2016
Find pre-order links here

===

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!

Monday, 21 March 2016

7 Sykos - Slightly Ranty Book Review


7 Sykos
by Marsheila Rockwell and Jeff Mariotte


What is it about:
Detached from the world, how are seven psychopaths going to save it?

Phoenix is one of the most populated cities in America...but not for long. With a mysterious sickness spreading through the streets, two things are becoming very clear: there’s no cure, and it doesn’t necessarily kill you.

Instead, the so-called “Infecteds” have become a living plague, killing and eating everyone they come into contact with. Chaos is spreading, and no one is safe.

No one, that is, except for a group of psychos.

Somehow unaffected by the disease—and with promises of clemency for their monstrous pasts—a group of seven is sent downtown to hopefully find the cause of the disease…and therefore a cure. But when the asylum is the size of a city, it no longer matters who is running things.

Not when everyone is running for their lives.


What did I think of it:
I preordered this book on impulse because it mentioned a zombie-like plague and psychopaths being send in to save the day.

And it is a nice enough read.

The whole first part of the book is unnecessarily long in my opinion. Come on: people get sick and start to crave brains. Psychos don't. Send them in! End of part one.

Instead there's lots of blah to set up one of the characters and a special side storyline that was also completely unnecessary in my opinion. And yes, that might be because I didn't think she was all that interesting. If the whole first part had centered a bit more on the psychos I might have been more entertained.

Then they finally go into Phoenix and there's finally some cool action. I still thought the psychos didn't get enough screen time, but at least there was some zombie-like mayhem.

The side storyline slowed things down a bit, but otherwise I liked the story much better once it really got going.

All in all a nice, entertaining read.

Why should you read it:
If you like the general idea of this story and don't mind a slow build-up, you will probably enjoy this.


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Friday, 18 March 2016

Winter in Wartime - Book Review


Winter in Wartime
by Jan Terlouw




What is it about:
Near the end of World War II, 14-year-old Michiel becomes involved with the Resistance after coming to the aid of a wounded British soldier. With the conflict coming to an end, Michiel comes of age and learns of the stark difference between adventure fantasy and the ugly realities of war.

What did I think of it:
I can't even count how many times I checked this book out of the library as a kid. And it's one of the few Dutch classics that I love that's translated to English.

It's a really cool and suspenseful book about a young teen becoming involved in the resistance, but more so it's about growing up. Michiel leanrs the hard way that not everyone wants to or can do what's right, and that he has to learn to trust his own wits to figure out who's to be trusted and who might betray him.

All in all this is a beautiful and interesting read.

I can recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a suspenseful and engaging book for people aged 9 and up.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful and cool read set in WWII


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Live in the Netherlands and read Dutch?
Most bookstores have this book for just 1 euro at the moment to encourage kids to pick up this classic.

Thursday, 17 March 2016

On McPig's Wishlist - The Empress Game

This book sounds very tempting!


The Empress Game (The Empress Game Trilogy #1)
by Rhonda Mason


One seat on the intergalactic Sakien Empire’s supreme ruling body, the Council of Seven, remains unfilled, that of the Empress Apparent. The seat isn’t won by votes or marriage. It’s won in a tournament of ritualized combat in the ancient tradition. Now that tournament, the Empress Game, has been called and the females of the empire will stop at nothing to secure political domination for their homeworlds. Kayla Reinumon, a supreme fighter, is called by a mysterious stranger to battle it out in the arena.

The battle for political power isn’t contained by the tournament’s ring, however. The empire’s elite gather to forge, strengthen or betray alliances in a dance that will determine the fate of the empire for a generation. With the empire wracked by a rising nanovirus plague and stretched thin by an ill-advised planet-wide occupation of Ordoch in enemy territory, everything rests on the woman who rises to the top.



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Killers of the Dawn - Book Review


Killers of the Dawn (Cirque du Freak #9)
by Darren Shan


What is it about:
Outnumbered, outsmarted and desperate, the hunters are on the run, pursued by the vampaneze, the police, and an angry mob. With their enemies clamoring for blood, the vampires prepare for a deadly battle. Is this the end for Darren and his allies?

What did I think of it:
This book is very entertaining.

Darren and his friends are in big trouble and have to be resourceful to survive.

There's lots of action, deceit and revelations. Although I must say that the big reveal in this book is one that I saw coming since the first book. So maybe it's more confirmations than revelations.

But easy to see plot twist aside this is a cool read. Some other things happen that make me eager to find out what will happen next. Luckily I received the last three books in one omnibus from my friend Beanie, so I'll be reading the next book soon.

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


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

Teaser Tuesdays - 7 Sykos


"So we'll be heroes."
"Yes, I suppose you will."
"Chicks dig heroes."
Fallon stopped herself from rolling her eyes in disgust, but just barely.
"Some of them." The ones with death wishes, if Warga was their idea of a hero.

(page 146, 7 Sykos by Marsheila Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte)


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

===

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!

Monday, 14 March 2016

King's Property - Slightly Ranty Book Review


King's Property (Queen of the Orcs #1)
by Morgan Howell


What is it about:
Born into hardship, Dar learns to rely on herself alone. When her family betrays her, Dar is conscripted into King Kregant’s army and its brutal campaign to conquer a neighboring country. Now she is bound as a slave to a dreaded regiment of orcs, creatures legendary for their savagery and battle prowess.

Rather than cower, Dar rises to the challenge. She learns the unique culture and language of the orcs, survives treachery from both allies and enemies, and struggles to understand a mystical gift that brings her dark, prophetic visions. As the war escalates–amid nightmarish combat and shattering loss–Dar must seize a single chance at freedom.


What did I think of it:
*contains spoiler about love interest*

This is a decent read.

I liked the world building, the orcs and the overall story. The writing is a bit static in my opinion, making it difficult to feel the emotions of the characters.

Dar is of course a bit of a Wonder Woman. She's smart, resourceful and everything, thus escaping the most brutish things the soldiers do to the women Dar works with. But she's destined for greater things, so let's overlook how impossible some things are.

I loved reading about the orcs and how Dar slowly learned more about them. I hoped for an inter-species romance, but that was apparently a bridge too far. Instead a nice, safe human is introduced to help Dar over her distrust of human men. But he has a Scottish accent so we all must love him, right? Yeah... I wasn't happy about the love interest.

All in all this is a nice enough read, but not engaging enough to make me eager for the next book.

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


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Friday, 11 March 2016

A Fantasy Medley 3 - Book Review


A Fantasy Medley 3
by Yanni Kuznia (Editor), Jacqueline Carey, Kevin Hearne, Laura Bickle and Aliette de Bodard


What is it about:
In “Goddess at the Crossroads,” Kevin Hearne shares a thrillingly memorable episode from the past of his popular Iron Druid Chronicles hero Atticus O’Sullivan, revealing how one night’s dark encounter with the cult of Hecate served as inspiration for Shakespeare’s witches in the Scottish play.

With “Ashes,” Laura Bickle revisits Detroit arson investigator and powerful spirit medium Anya Kalinczyk as she, her five-foot-long salamander familiar Sparky, and Hades’ Charon pursue a destructive fire elemental named the Nain Rouge through the city’s festival in his dubious honor.

“The Death of Aiguillon” finds Aliette de Bodard exploring an episode sixty years prior to the start of her latest novel, The House of Shattered Wings, in which the survivors of an ongoing magical conflict in Paris eke out a grim existence, and one woman’s wish for a better life is granted at a terrible price.

And in “One Hundred Ablutions,” Jacqueline Carey, author of the much-beloved Kushiel’s Legacy series, tells the tale of Dala—a young woman chosen by her people’s overlords to be an exalted slave among slaves—and of the twining in her life of ritual, rebellion, and redemption.


What did I think of it:
Goddess at the Crossroads by Kevin Hearne
This was a fun story featuring Shakespeare and witches.
I haven't read the Iron Druid Chronicles (yet), but had no trouble understanding the story. I really liked the writing and the characters. I will have to dig up the first book in the series from my TBR pile and give it a try one of these days.

Ashes by Laura Bickle
If you know me, you know this story is why I wanted this anthology.
And Laura Bickle doesn't disappoint. This is a really cool and touching story. Anya and Sparky team up with Charon to save the city from destruction. I will keep hoping for more books and stories in this series, but if this story is the last then I'm happy with how Bickle leaves things for Anya and Sparky.

The Death of Aiguillon by Aliette de Bodard
I will admit I couldn't get into this story and didn't finish it.

One Hundred Ablutions by Jacqueline Carey
This is a beautiful and sad story.
I've only read one of Carey's Urban Fantasy books, but reading this story I'm tempted to pick up one of her Fantasy books as well. I loved the writing, the setting and the the mood that Carey sets here.

Why should you read it:
Sparky!!!


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Thursday, 10 March 2016

On McPig's Wishlist - Blades of the Old Empire


Blades of the Old Empire (Majat Code #1)
by Anna Kashina


Kara is a mercenary – a Diamond warrior, the best of the best, and a member of the notorious Majat Guild. When her tenure as protector to Prince Kythar comes to an end, custom dictates he accompany her back to her Guild to negotiate her continued protection.

But when they arrive they discover that the Prince’s sworn enemy, the Kaddim, have already paid the Guild to engage her services – to capture and hand over Kythar, himself.

A warrior brought up to respect both duty and honour, what happens when her sworn duty proves dishonourable?



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Dead Reign - Book Review


Dead Reign (Marla Mason #3)
by T.A. Pratt


What is it about:
Death has come calling, and one woman
has what he wants most of all...

As chief sorcerer of Felport, Marla Mason thought she’d faced every kind of evil the magical world had to offer. But she’s never faced a killer like this. He’s dark, glib, handsome as the devil—and exactly who he says he is. Death—in the flesh. He’s arrived in Felport with a posse composed of a half-insane necromancer and the reanimated corpse of John Wilkes Booth, and he isn’t leaving until he gets what he came for. Only Marla is crazy enough to tell Death to go back to Hell.

With the Founders’ Ball just around the bend, drawing together the brightest, meanest, and most dangerous of Felport’s magical elite, the last thing Marla needs is all-out war with the King of the Underworld, but that’s exactly what she’s got. As the battle lines are drawn, she can count on her hedonistic, body-hopping partner Rondeau...but how many of her old allies will stand by her side when facing the ultimate adversary? To save her city, Marla will have to find a way to cheat Death…literally.


What did I think of it:
This is yet another great addition to a really cool series.

This book starts with Marla and Rondeau having a conversation about zombies while they're spying on a necromancer. So you can bet I was hooked from the start!

Soon Marla and Rondeau are split up by circumstances, but they both know how to get things done, even if they have different ways of doing so. I enjoyed seeing how each of them tried to make the best of the situation they were thrown into.

There are lots of cool and fun events in this book. I love the way Pratt mixes humor with a really suspenseful story.

Although I must say that I'm sure by now that Marla will find a way out of trouble. And some things that happen make me wonder if Marla isn't maybe getting too powerful. On the other hand: if the books keep being as cool as this one, I don't care if Marla is too powerful or not.

And this book does end with a very interesting cliffhanger, so you can be sure I'll read the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
Zombies! Lots of zombies.
Seriously: It's a cool and fun Urban Fantasy read.




buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

Teaser Tuesdays - Kiss of Death


'Computers,' Myrnin said, then shoved the laptop she'd put out for him aside and glared at it as if it had personally insulted him. 'The technology is entirely idiotic. Who built this? Baboons?'

(page 87, Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine)


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

===

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!

Monday, 7 March 2016

Heart's Blood by Jeffe Kennedy - Cover Reveal


Today I have a wonderful treat for you:

The cover of Heart's Blood, a Twelve Kingdoms novella by Jeffe Kennedy.


HEART’S BLOOD
by Jeffe Kennedy, a Twelve Kingdoms novella


A dark fairytale retelling of a princess robbed of rank, husband and even her name.

Nix is nothing. The Princess Natilde—her former waiting woman—attacked her on the journey to wed Prince Cavan, stripping her of everything and taking her place. With no serving skills, Nix becomes a goose girl. Perhaps if Nix keeps her promise never to reveal who she really is, Natilde won’t carry out her vile threats. Prince Cavan entered his arranged marriage determined to have a congenial, if not loving relationship with his future queen—for the sake of both their kingdoms. But, his wife repels him more each day and he finds himself absurdly drawn to the lovely Nix.

With broken vows, anguish and dark secrets between them, Cavan and Nix struggle to find the magic to restore what’s gone terribly wrong... if it ever can be.



Soon available at
Amazon, B&N, Kobo

(previously released in the anthology Dark Secrets)



Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author whose works include non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, and novels. She has been a Ucross Foundation Fellow, received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship for Poetry, and was awarded a Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award. Her essays have appeared in many publications, including Redbook.

Her most recent works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns; the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and an erotic contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera. A fourth series, the fantasy trilogy The Twelve Kingdoms, hit the shelves starting in May 2014 and book 1, The Mark of the Tala, received a starred Library Journal review and has been nominated for the RT Book of the Year while the sequels, The Tears of the Rose and The Talon of the Hawk, have been nominated for The RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of the year in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Two more books will follow in this world, beginning with The Pages of the Mind in Summer 2016. A fifth series, the erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under, started with Going Under, followed by Under His Touch and Under Contract.

She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the popular Word Whores blog, on Facebook, on Goodreads and pretty much constantly on Twitter @jeffekennedy. She is represented by Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Literary.

-------

And if you are drooling over this beautiful cover:
The artist has swag featuring this cover and other beautiful artwork here:
https://society6.com/louisagallie


Friday, 4 March 2016

Traveler - Book Review/Rant


Traveler (Seeker #2)
by Arwen Elys Dayton


What is it about:
Quin Kincaid is a Seeker. Her legacy is an honor, an ancient role passed down for generations. But what she learned on her oath night changed her world forever.

Quin pledged her life to deception. Her legacy as a Seeker is not noble but savage. She was trained to be an assassin. And the boy she once loved is out for vengeance, with her family in his sights.

Yet Quin is not alone. Shinobu, her oldest companion, might now be the only person she can trust. The only one who wants answers as desperately as she does.

But the deeper they dig into the past, the darker things become. There are long-vanished Seeker families, shadowy alliances, and something else: a sinister plan begun generations ago with the power to end the legacy forever.

And it might destroy them all.


What did I think of it:
I'm going to guess that a lot of people liked the multiple viewpoints in the first book of this series, because in this book the number of viewpoint characters is doubled!

Yes: six! viewpoint characters all get their own chapters in which they treat you to their view of the world. In the best circumstances I'm not a fan of multiple viewpoints, but here it really annoyed me. I didn't think much of most of the characters, so found myself skimming to reach the chapters of the few characters I could stand.

All these different people all doing their own thing dragged the pacing down as well. Even with skimming this felt like a long and slow read. Characters I liked in the previous book were suddenly whiny and/or annoying. I came close to not finishing the book, but the hope that it would change and I'd love the book kept me reading. Alas!

I'm going to give up on this trilogy and won't be picking up the last book, if only because I'm afraid the next book will have even more viewpoint characters to loathe. A shame, because despite some flaws in the world building I really liked the first book.

Why should you read it:
If you like multiple viewpoints and Paranormal Near Future World YA you might like this.


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Thursday, 3 March 2016

On McPig's Wishlist - The Dinosaur Lords

Knights battling each other on dinosaurs! What's not to love?

I'm going to get my trotters on the paperback once it releases.


The Dinosaur Lords (The Dinosaur Lords #1)
by Victor Milán


A world made by the Eight Creators on which to play out their games of passion and power, Paradise is a sprawling, diverse, often brutal place. Men and women live on Paradise as do dogs, cats, ferrets, goats, and horses. But dinosaurs predominate: wildlife, monsters, beasts of burden – and of war. Colossal planteaters like Brachiosaurus; terrifying meateaters like Allosaurus and the most feared of all, Tyrannosaurus rex. Giant lizards swim warm seas. Birds (some with teeth) share the sky with flying reptiles that range in size from batsized insectivores to majestic and deadly Dragons.

Thus we are plunged into Victor Milán's splendidly weird world of The Dinosaur Lords, a place that for all purposes mirrors 14th century Europe with its dynastic rivalries, religious wars, and byzantine politics…and the weapons of choice are dinosaurs. Where we have vast armies of dinosaur-mounted knights engaged in battle. And during the course of one of these epic battles, the enigmatic mercenary Dinosaur Lord Karyl Bogomirsky is defeated through betrayal and left for dead. He wakes, naked, wounded, partially amnesiac – and hunted. And embarks upon a journey that will shake his world.


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery