Friday, 31 March 2017

King's Property - Slightly Ranty Book Review (repost)


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

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

The Making of a Gentleman - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (repost)


The Making of a Gentleman (The Sons of the Revolution #2)
by Shana Galen


What is it about:
Twelve years in a French prison leave Armand Harcourt a hollow shell. Back in England, his noble family hire Felicity Bennett to teach him manners and speech. Desire shakes both, and heals their past scars in surprising dangerous ways.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a really nice Historical Romance.

I liked that the hero wasn't a dashing rogue for once. Armand is emotionally scarred and inexperienced when it comes to women. I especially liked reading how he opens up to Felicity, although I will confess I did wonder at times about the speed of his progress when it came to their relationship. I would have liked his emotional recovery to have been a little harder, and their romance a bit slower.

The suspense story line was a bit much in my opinion. Next to people hunting after Armand, there's also someone making things difficult for Felicity. The Felicity thing could have easily been left out and this would still have been a suspenseful enough read.

But overall I enjoyed this story, and I will most probably try other books by Galen if I run into them.

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


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Monday, 27 March 2017

Gardenia - Book Review


Gardenia
by Kelsey Sutton


What is it about:
Seventeen-year-old Ivy Erickson has one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds to live.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been able to see countdown clocks over everyone's heads indicating how long before they will die. She can't do anything about anyone else’s, nor can she do anything about her own, which will hit the zero hour before she even graduates high school.

A life cut short is tragic, but Ivy does her best to make the most of it. She struggles emotionally with her deep love for on-again, off-again boyfriend Myers Patripski. She struggles financially, working outside of school to help her mom and her sister. And she struggles to cope with the murder of her best friend, another life she couldn't save. Vanessa Donovan was killed in the woods, and everyone in town believes Ivy had something to do with it.

Then more girls start disappearing. Ivy tries to put her own life in order as she pieces together the truth of who ended Vanessa's. To save lives and for her own sanity.

The clock is always ticking. And Ivy's only hope is to expose the truth before it runs out completely.


What did I think of it:
After reading and loving Some Quiet Place I bought two more books by Kelsey Sutton. Of the two I first picked up Gardenia.

And this is a cool read.

Some Quiet Place
was a book that was both suspenseful and atmospheric. Gardenia isn't as atmospheric, but the suspense it racked up high. Ivy can see how long people have left to live and can see her own time running out.

I mostly liked Ivy. She's trying to deal with her coming death, her guilt over the death of her best friend, and on top of that a killer might be on the loose. It's her misguided notion she has to show her family how to live their lives that irked me though. But that aside, I was hooked from the start and had to keep reading to find out if Ivy would solve the murder of her best friend and if she could beat the clock.

All in all this is a well written, suspenseful, and cool read. I will pick up another book by Sutton soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a suspenseful YA read.


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 24 March 2017

Bec - Book Review


Bec (The Demonata #4)
by Darren Shan


What is it about:
As demonic Fomorii ravage their land, Bec and a band of warrior companions leave their devastated rath to answer a plea for help. An orphaned priestess-in-training, Bec hopes the journey will help her solve the mysteries of her birth. But fighting demons has a steep price...

What did I think of it:
This is my favorite book in this series so far.

This book works within the series, but easily could stand on its own as well.

It is set in the past, long before the events in the first three books, and I got the feeling Shan did his research. It felt real, even with Demonata added to the mix, without turning into a history lesson.

I liked Bec and most of the warriors who accompany her on the journey they have to make. I was invested in their well-being and sad when things went wrong. From the start it's clear not everyone can survive, and I could only hope my favorite characters would escape the horrors they encounter.

I will pick up the next book in this series soon, and if there's one book that I most definitely will reread it's this one.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool and suspenseful read


Buy from bookdepository

Thursday, 23 March 2017

On McPig's Wishlist - Roar


Roar (Stormheart #1)
by Cora Carmack


In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage.

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.



Buy from bookdepository

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

Wintersong - Book Review


Wintersong
by S. Jae-Jones


What is it about:
The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.

But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds—and the mysterious man who rules it—she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.


What did I think of it:
I have very mixed feelings on this book. Mostly it's an entertaining story, but it hit on several of my pet peeves.

First there's Liesl. She's the kind of sibling I hate the most in stories about families: the oldest child, who's convinced her younger siblings will ruin their lives if she isn't there for them to decide what's best for them and to wipe their nose for them. Even worse: Liesl throws in an unhealthy dose of martyrdom as well. I could have lived with this if I had the feeling her journey to the Underground really changed her, and made her see what she's doing, but by the end of the book I had my doubts about that. She might have learned something, but I do wonder if she changed her twisted views on sisterly love.

Then there was the unnecessary use of German words. Yes, yes, the story is set in Germany, you don't have to throw in a 'mein Herr' every couple of pages to remind us. If the book is in English stick to English. And yes: probably a very personal pet peeve, but it kept jarring me out of the story.

Anything good?

I really loved the Underground, the goblins, and the Goblin King. I liked how he tried to interact with Liesl. If only Liesl had been different I'd have loved this story. But Liesl being who she is, I felt sorry for the Goblin King and wanted to tell him not to bother.

All in all a well written, entertaining read even though I didn't warm up to the lead character. I might give something else by Jae-Jones a try if it sounds interesting.

Why should you read it:
It has goblins!


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 21 March 2017

Newest Arrival


Somehow my scheduled Teaser Tuesday post got lost, so because I'm too lazy to make a new one here's a picture of my newest arrival.

Thanks Melliane!

Monday, 20 March 2017

Beautiful Creatures - Book Review


Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures #1)
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl


What is it about:
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.


What did I think of it:
This book is over 600 pages, so I kept skipping over it in favor of less large reads. But when I could get my trotters on the rest of the series for just 6 Euro total at a charity shop I decided the time had come to give this Orphan some attention.

And it's such a cool read.

I immediately liked Ethan. He feels trapped in the town he grew up in and wants to be different than the people who see no problem in staying in the same small town for the rest of their lives. Still, he might have big dreams, in reality he isn't much different from everyone else and keeps his head down. Until Lena shows up at his school.

This is as much a Paranormal story as it is a story about deciding where you stand. What's important to you? Where do you draw the line? I found the way Ethan struggles with these things as suspenseful as the Paranormal side of this story.

The worldbuilding was very well done, both the small Southern town as the paranormal aspects. I was drawn into the world and story quickly and even though the book was over 600 pages long I blew through it.

There was one moment near the end where I wanted to slap some sense in people, but overall this is a really entertaining and cool read, with an ending that made me curious what will be next.

You bet I'll be picking up the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable Paranormal YA read.


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 17 March 2017

Assassin's Gambit - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (repost)


Assassin's Gambit (Hearts and Thrones #1)
by Amy Raby


What is it about:
Vitala Salonius, champion of the warlike game of Caturanga, is as deadly as she is beautiful. She’s a trained assassin for the resistance, and her true play is for ultimate power. Using her charm and wit, she plans to seduce her way into the emperor’s bed and deal him one final, fatal blow, sparking a battle of succession that could change the face of the empire.

As the ruler of a country on the brink of war and the son of a deposed emperor, Lucien must constantly be wary of an attempt on his life. But he’s drawn to the stunning Caturanga player visiting the palace. Vitala may be able to distract him from his woes for a while—and fulfill other needs, as well.

Lucien’s quick mind and considerable skills awaken unexpected desires in Vitala, weakening her resolve to finish her mission. An assassin cannot fall for her prey, but Vitala’s gut is telling her to protect this sexy, sensitive man. Now she must decide where her heart and loyalties lie and navigate the dangerous war of politics before her gambit causes her to lose both Lucien and her heart for good.


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

I will confess I had my doubts at first. An assassin who falls for her victim... It sounded like it might be an unbelievable and forced romance. But when a friend with similar tastes told me she really enjoyed the book I decided to give it a try.

And I'm glad I picked this book up, because it's very different from what I feared.

Vitala's actions are very believable and the romance developed at a realistic pace. The intrigue and action that's going on is also very well written and romance and action intertwine in a natural way. All in all this is a really intense adventure with a sizzling romance at the heart of it.

The one negative thing was the resolution of the romance. There are some barriers that were removed very abruptly in my opinion. I would have liked this book even more if the ending had been stretched out a bit and things had been resolved a bit more believable.

That aside this is a very decent and enjoyable Fantasy Romance and I will keep an eye out for other books by Raby.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Thursday, 16 March 2017

In McPig's TBR Pile - Fire

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, but so far haven't gotten to reading the second book.


Fire (Engelsfors #2)
by Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren


Praised by Lev Grossman as "stunning, …raw, real, smart, very thrilling and very, very wicked,” The Circle, the first book in the internationally bestselling Engelsfors Trilogy, introduced a group of high school girls with special powers who became the Chosen Ones. As book two, Fire, begins, Minoo, Vanessa, Linnéa, Anna-Karin and Ida have been struggling with their own demons all summer long. Now school is back in session, and whether they like it or not, the five Chosen Ones must stick together stronger than ever before.

Evil is back in Engelsfors and it threatens to engulf everyone and everything—and only if the five girls accept their strengths and trust each other unconditionally will they have any chance of defeating it.

The second installment of the Engelsfors Trilogy—an international sensation with rights sold in 26 countries—Fire sees the past woven together with the present, the living with the dead, our human world with demonic forces. This spellbinding novel takes the reader on a wild journey in a world where the stakes are higher than life-and-death.



Buy from bookdepository

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

Slawter - Book Review


Slawter (The Demonata #3)
by Darren Shan


What is it about:
Lights. Camera. Slawter!

Grubbs Grady and his half-brother Bill-E are thrilled to join their uncle Dervish as onset consultants for the newest movie by cult horror producer David A Hayms. Shot in a deserted town renamed Slawter, the demon-themed movie is to be Hayms's masterpiece. But as strange incidents disrupt the set, Grubbs begins to wonder whether more than filming is afoot.


What did I think of it:
I had a bit of a rocky start with this series, but it's getting better each book.

Shan even managed to surprise me in this book. In the Cirque du Freak books I could see things coming from miles away, but here I actually was wrong about a few things that happened.

This is a fun, action-packed romp with misdirections, mayhem and demons.

I'll be picking up the next book soon.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Teaser Tuesdays - Beautiful Creatures

Trying to get a TBR Orphan read this month. This starts out interesting, but it's a huge book: more than 600 pages.


If anyone had told me a month ago that I would ever walk past those gates, up that hill, and set foot anywhere on the grounds of Ravenwood, I would've said they were crazy. In a town like Gatlin, where you can see everything coming, I wouldn't have seen this.

(page 70/71, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl)


Buy from bookdepository

---------

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, 13 March 2017

Future Threat - Book Review


Future Threat (Future Shock #2)
by Elizabeth Briggs


What is it about:
Six months ago Aether Corporation sent Elena, Adam, and three other recruits on a trip to the future where they brought back secret information--but not everyone made it back to the present alive. Now Elena's dealing with her survivor's guilt and trying to make her relationship with Adam work. All she knows for sure is that she's done with time travel and Aether Corporation.

But Aether's not done with her--or Adam, or fellow survivor Chris. The travelers on Aether's latest mission to the future have gone missing, and Elena and her friends are drafted into the rescue effort. They arrive in a future that's amazingly advanced, thanks to Aether Corporation's reverse-engineered technology. The mission has deadly consequences, though, and they return to the future to try to alter the course of events.

But the future is different yet again. Now every trip through time reveals new complications, and more lives lost--or never born. Elena and Adam must risk everything--including their relationship--to save their friends.


What did I think of it:
I loved the first book in this trilogy, so after we read some of Briggs' New Adult Romances it was time to dive into book two of this YA trilogy.

And this is yet another cool read.

I will confess that I thought the time traveling got a bit... dodgy. Looking at the fact that the future constantly changes by things Elena and the others do, I think that some of the things that happened in this story shouldn't be possible. It sure made me raise and eyebrow at times.

It's a credit to Briggs' writing and storytelling that I was able to let these time travel glitches slide and enjoyed the story even so.

Elena continues to be a cool character. She's slowly learning to trust others and I enjoyed seeing her evolve. I also really liked Adam and Chris. It was the new cast of characters I didn't really warm up to, but the story is cool enough that it didn't matter.

All in all a great read. You bet I'll be getting my trotters on the last book once it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool YA read with time travel


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 10 March 2017

More Than Comics - Book Review by Voodoo Bride


More Than Comics (Chasing the Dream #2)
by Elizabeth Briggs


What is it about:
They're friends online - but can they be more in real life?

Writer Tara McFadden has been friends with artist and drummer Hector Fernandez for years, long before his band became famous on reality TV – yet they’ve never met in person. They finally have a chance to connect offline when they’re both sent to Comic-Con to promote the graphic novel they collaborated on.

Hector's secretly been in love with Tara for as long as he can remember, and once they meet, she sees him in a new light. All the years of longing lead to an incredible night of passion after one of his concerts, but neither is sure if their online relationship can translate into a real life romance – or if this will ruin their friendship forever.

Over four crazy days at Comic-Con, Hector and Tara must decide if they want a future together. But when their story seems to be over, it’s up to Hector’s entire band to make sure he and Tara get their happy ending.


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I really liked Hector in both the novella and the first book in this series, so I was eager to read this book.

And it's everything I hoped for.

The previous book was really good, but it didn't Wow me with the romance. This book delivered!

The viewpoint switches between Hector and Tara, giving you insight in both their thoughts and feelings. I was already a little bit in love with Hector, but soon after starting this book I was totally hooked. I could relate with Hector and could really understand why he is hesitant to show Tara how he really feels, why he's afraid to commit.

I also really liked Tara and could understand her feelings as well. She just came out of a serious relationship, and is starting a job in a new town. A new relationship on top of that might be a bit much. I love how her doubts and the solution of her problems are handled. It's easy to go the 'love will solve everything' route in a romance like this, but luckily Briggs didn't take such an easy way out.

I loved the setting of course: a big comic convention!!! So next to enjoying the hot and intense romance I also got to geek out over Comic-Con and the mentions of comics and movies. The characters of the previous books make their appearance as well, and it was fun to see how they were doing. The main characters of the upcoming books had some screentime as well, and I'm curious about their story I will confess.

All in all this is a delicious read, and I'll definitely will be rereading it. But first I'll be reading Future Threat, the second book in Briggs' YA trilogy, and I'll be getting my hands on the other books in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a steamy and delicious New Adult Romance read set at Comic-Con.


Buy from bookdepository

Thursday, 9 March 2017

The Crow Box - Spotlight

I just had to share this book with you. It sounds really cool and I'm very tempted to buy the paperback.


The Crow Box (Shadow and Ink #1)
by Nikki Rae


The small wooden box is dirty, the size of a human fist, and sealed with wax. When Corbin takes it upon herself to clean it and break the seal, a voice she has tried to ignore gathers strength. Shadows play on the walls at night, and with a family history of mental illness, Corbin fears the worst. But the voice tells her it is real. That its name is Six and it will prove it in time.

Drawn to this mysterious entity, Corbin isn't sure what to believe and the line between reality and her imagination blurs more every day.

Some doors should not be opened; can this one be closed?



Buy from:
Amazon - Bookdepository



About Nikki Rae:
Nikki Rae is an independent author who lives in New Jersey. She explores human nature through fiction, concentrating on making the imaginary as real as possible. Her genres of choice are mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she’ll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely.



Links:

Amazon

Goodreads - Facebook

Facebook Group (feel free to join!)

Website - Twitter

Instagram - Tumblr

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Firstlife - A DNF Rant


Firstlife (Everlife #1)
by Gena Showalter


What is it about:
ONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…


What did I think of it:
I should have known there was a large possibility I would not like the characters in this book. I didn't much care for the characters in Showalter's Alice in Zombieland after all. But the premise sounded intriguing enough that I wanted to give this book a try.

And soon I ran into my first major grumble.

Ten gets a roommate: a girl named Bow. If Bow had actually been a girl she might have been interesting. But the snarky emails that start this book made it clear that Bow is a boy named Archer who has been given a female body to get close to Ten. Knowing this I didn't like Bow/Archer. He's a horny jerk who grabs his own boobs, because: "Look Mommy, I suddenly have boobs! I'm so hot I'd do myself if I could."

Yeah... Moving on.

And as if Bow wasn't annoying enough: soon another boy gets introduced. Killian apparently is Irish, even though the worldbuilding doesn't mention the world this story is set in is our world. Killian doesn't care about that and throws out a "Lass" every opportunity he gets. Yes, Killian, we get it. You're handsome AND Irish. Forgive me that I don't swoon over your overuse of that word. People have names you know. Use those! (And yes: I will confess this is a personal pet peeve.)

Then Ten and Killian get set up for a date and they start making lame jokes about food-babies...
Ten: "I'm eating a lot because I want a food-baby."
Killian: "Then it's a good thing I used my fork to make holes in the chocolate cake."

......

This is when the book got tossed and I decided I didn't care enough about the premise to stand another second of Ten, Boob Boy and Lass Lad.

Maybe other people won't be so annoyed by these characters, but I'm done with Showalter's YA books for now. I still might give Lords of the Underworld a try, because I already have the first book somewhere in my TBR pile.

Why should you read it:
The premise does sound intriguing.


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Teaser Tuesdays - Don of the Dead


"I'm surprised it doesn't bother you. I can't believe you're not upset by the fact that you're-"
"Dead?"

(page 37, Don of the Dead, by Casey Daniels)


Buy from bookdepository

---------

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, 6 March 2017

More Than Music - Book Review by Voodoo Bride


More Than Music (Chasing the Dream #1)
by Elizabeth Briggs


What is it about:
Classical musician Maddie Taylor secretly dreams of a louder life, but geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there's more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but when the show pressures them to stay single, they're forced to keep their relationship secret.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I fell in love with the prequel novella of this series, so had to read more. I wasn't a fan of Jared in the novella, so I was tempted to skip to book two in the series (comic books geeks!). I finally decided to get both books and give Jared a chance.

I love this book!

I will confess Jared wasn't the romantic hero I wanted him to be, and I really think Maddie could do better, but the story was just so good!

Instead of losing myself in the romance I was totally engrossed in the competition and the dynamics of the whole band. Yes: there were some tense scenes between Maddie and Jared, but to be honest I was more curious to find out if the band would win, than if our two lead characters would end up together. To me this story felt much more like it was about Maddie finding out who she is than that it is a romance.

I loved reading more about Kyle and Hector, and the whole competition was really fun to read about as well. I liked getting to know the heroines of later books in the series, and seeing Maddie grow and finding her place in the band and in life. Jared grew on me during the story, but he doesn't hold a candle to Kyle or Hector. Still Briggs writes in a way that made the ending satisfying and that makes me eager to pick up the next book.

Luckily it's already in my TBR pile.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 3 March 2017

Poison Princess - Book Review


Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)
by Kresley Cole


What is it about:
She could save the world-or destroy it.
Sixteen year old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future-and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Derveaux.

But she can't do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...


What did I think of it:
This book has it all: an apocalypse, zombies, tarot! I must say I'm wondering why it took me so long to give it a try.

I enjoyed the first 60 to 70 percent of the book the most. It starts with the days leading up to the apocalypse. I liked getting to know Evie and her quirks, and I was intrigued by her visions and her awakening powers. Then the apocalypse happened and it's all about surviving. As you can guess I loved reading how Evie and Jackson try to make their way through a zombie filled wasteland (well, they were sort of zombies anyway).

I will say I did think some of the world building didn't make sense at all, and that for a world where water is scarce people were very wasteful. I told myself to overlook the glaringly obvious flaws in the world building and to just enjoy the story. I mostly succeeded.

The last 30 percent the inevitable teenage love triangle mess started, and there was beard shaving as well. But even with those two things I enjoyed the book enough to pick up book two soon to see what happens next.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Apocalyptic YA read with zombies and tarot.


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Thursday, 2 March 2017

In McPig's TBR Pile - Ruins

Do you know that feeling: you're enjoying the first books in a trilogy so much you keep postponing reading the last book because you're afraid it will be an anticlimax. That's why I still haven't read this book anyway. *glares accusingly at Allegiant*


Ruins (Partials Sequence #3)
by Dan Wells


Kira, Samm, and Marcus fight to prevent a final war between Partials and humans in the gripping final installment in the Partials Sequence, a series that combines the thrilling action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Blade Runner and The Stand.

There is no avoiding it—the war to decide the fate of both humans and Partials is at hand. Both sides hold in their possession a weapon that could destroy the other, and Kira Walker has precious little time to prevent that from happening. She has one chance to save both species and the world with them, but it will only come at great personal cost.



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Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Teaser Tuesdays on a Wednesday - Nobody's Hero


"You mean you shoot them," he said, watching the settlement carefully. "Before the first change."

(page 57, Nobody's Hero by Bec McMaster)


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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!