Tuesday, 31 October 2017

Happy Halloween!

Anyone looking for a Halloween read should check out:


The dead are easy to talk to. Live people, not so much.

Charlie Sulliven thinks she knows all the secrets of the dead. Raised in a funeral home, she’s the reluctant “Ghoul Girl,” her reputation tied to a disastrous Halloween party. But navigating her life as a high school sophomore is an anxiety-inducing puzzle to her. She haunts the funeral home with her parents, emo older brother, Garth, their pistol-packing Gramma, and the glass-eyeball-devouring dachshund, Lothar.

Chewed human bodies are appearing in her parents’ morgue…and disappearing in the middle of the night. The bodies seem tied to a local legend, Catfish Bob, who has resurfaced in the muddy Milburn river near Charlie’s small town. When one of Charlie’s classmates, Amanda, awakens in the cooler as a flesh-eating ghoul, Charlie must protect her newfound friend and step up to unravel the mystery…and try to avoid becoming lunch meat for the dead.



buy links

Monday, 30 October 2017

Deadlocked - Book Review


Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12)
by Charlaine Harris


What is it about:
Sookie has a murder investigation on her hands.

A young girl has died at a vampire party - and it looks as though her lover, Eric, might be responsible. Eric swears he didn't do it, the police don't believe him, and even Sookie isn't so sure. Nor is she inclined to take his word for it, not having caught him enjoying the victim's blood minutes before she was killed.

But something strange is going on. Why had Sookie been asked to come to the fateful party a few minutes early - just to catch Eric in the act? And why had the victim spiked her own blood before approaching Eric? Was it simply because she wanted to be irresistible, or was it something more sinister?

Sookie will have to find out ... but it's the worst moment to investigate, as her Fae family are having troubles of their own and Sookie is, inevitably, drawn in. And there is one last complication. The cluviel dor her grandmother left her. It will grant her one wish, which could fulfill Sookie's heart's desire. The only problem is, she still doesn't know what - or who - her heart truly desires ...


What did I think of it:
My attempts to finally finish this series continue.

And this was yet another very enjoyable read that had me firmly engrossed in the lives of Sookie and those around her. Maybe it's that I already know a bit about how this series ends, but to me it seems this book and the previous one are clearly paving the way for that ending. And I must say I'm looking forward to seeing everything falling together. Something I'd never thought would happen after book 8.

Talking about that book. There was one minor grumble in this book: Sookie hears from Quinn and apparently he had something with a were-tigress called 'Tijgerin'...

Yeah...

Tijgerin is the Dutch word for tigress, so... that's like calling your daughter Girl or Woman. Those parents should be kicked in my opinion.

That grumble aside this was a fun and entertaining read. I hope my copy of Dead Ever After arrives soon, so I can find out how everything ties up.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 27 October 2017

Dead Reckoning - Book Review


Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11)
by Charlaine Harris


What is it about:
With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

What did I think of it:
Even though Dead in the Family started really slow, I was firmly back in the world and story at the end. So I decided to pick up the next book to see where things were going.

And this book was much better in my opinion. There was action from the start, interesting developments, and I even agreed with Sookie about some things.

There is more revealed about Sookie's family and Sookie's particular talents, and next to some cool action scenes there are developments in Sookie's love life as well. Some things are resolved, but others promise to play a big role in the next book.

All in all I'm enjoying this series again, and I'm planning to finally finish it. I already have Deadlocked on my shelves and I ordered the last book so I can finally read the apparently controversial ending that had so many people in a snit.

Why should you read it:
It's an action-packed and fun UF read.


Buy from bookdepository

Thursday, 26 October 2017

On McPig's Wishlist - Gunpowder Alchemy


Gunpowder Alchemy (The Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
by Jeannie Lin


In 1842, the gunpowder might of China’s Qing Dynasty fell to Britain’s steam engines. Furious, the Emperor ordered the death of his engineers, eliminating China’s best chance of fighting back.

Since her father’s execution eight years ago, Jin Soling has kept her family from falling apart. With her mother addicted to opium and her younger brother in danger of being sent off to the factories, Soling has no choice but to sell off the last of her father’s possessions. Unwittingly, her actions bring her to the attention of the imperial court—the same court that betrayed her father.

The Crown Prince has launched a secret mission to bring together the remnants of the former Ministry of Science. To restore her family’s name, Soling must track down the rebel alchemist who holds the key to powering the imperial fleet. Her only ally is a man she’s just met—the engineer with a mysterious past who was once meant to be her husband…



Buy from bookdepository

Wednesday, 25 October 2017

Dead in the Family - Book Review


Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10)
by Charlaine Harris


What is it about:
It's all about family ...

Sookie Stackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from her own kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a place in her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arrives with Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie's tracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), Vampire Bill Compton.

In addition to the multitude of family issues complicating her life, the werewolf pack of Shreveport has asked Sookie for a special favour, and since Sookie is an obliging young woman, she agrees. But this favour for the wolves has dire results for Sookie, who is still recovering from the trauma of her abduction during the Fairy War.


What did I think of it:
It's been awhile since I read the previous book, but I finally decided to try to continue this series.

And maybe this isn't the best book to pick up after being in a series slum. it was slow.

The previous book had lots of action and heartbreak, so maybe it's not so strange that Sookie is taking things easy, but for me it felt like ages before the story was going somewhere. Still I decided to stick to it and finally stuff started to happen and I was dragged into the world again. At the end of the book I was happy enough about developments that I might just pick up book 11 soon.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

Teaser Tuesdays - Heat Stroke


The Ifrit purred, "Peace to you, my sisters."
"War, my sister," Rahel answered softly.

(page 93, Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine)


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, 23 October 2017

Ninth Key - Book Review


Ninth Key (The Mediator #2)
by Meg Cabot


What is it about:
Everything is going great for Suze. Her new life in California is a whirlwind of parties and excellent hair days. Tad Beaumont, the hottest boy in town, has even asked Suze out on her very first date. Suze is so excited that she's willing to ignore her misgivings about Tad... particularly the fact that he's not Jesse, whose ghostly status - not to mention apparent disinterest in her - make him unattainable.

What Suze can't ignore, however, is the ghost of a murdered woman whose death seems directly connected to dark secrets hidden in none other than Tad Beaumont's past.


What did I think of it:
This is yet another fun book by Cabot.

Suze is jumping to conclusions rather fast, and has poor judgement at times, but it makes for an enjoyable story, so I won't grumble about it. It did feel like there was less action in this story, but that may be because in the first book lots of things had to be explained and had to happen to get to know Suze, so it might have felt like a faster story because of that.

All in all this is a fast and entertaining read. I might pick up the next book when I'm in the mood for something breezy.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 20 October 2017

Ashes of the Phoenix - Book Review


Ashes of the Phoenix (Phoenix Rising #1)
by Jess Haines

What is it about:
Lyra Adams enjoys her job as a rare books dealer, but when an angry wizard barges into her store and demands she fork over a unique tome from the antiquities section, she's not about to let him get away with grand larceny without a fight.

Except it's suddenly very difficult to defend her wares, seeing as the wizard turned her into some kind of weird red bird by flinging a handful of ashes in her face.

Her only hope of returning to her normal, human self lies in the hands of the one man she never wanted to see again: her lying, stealing, sorcerous scumbag ex, James Pierce. The same light-fingered thief who tried to steal that very same tome from her a few days before.

She knows she can’t trust James with her heart or her inventory. Can she trust him to turn her back?


What did I think of it:
I love Haines' H&W Investigations series, so when I had an Amazon gift card to spend Ashes of the Phoenix (which isn't available at bookdepository where I get most of my books) was one of the books I just had to get.

And this is a fun book.

It's set in the same world as the H&W Investigations series, with Lyra being a normal human who gets mixed up in the affairs of wizards.

I liked Lyra and the way she reacts to the things that happened. I did not like her ex. As so often there was another man I thought would be a much better fit with Lyra, but I'm used to that by now, so it didn't diminish my enjoyment.

This being a book of about 150 pages, it's a quick read. There's also lots of action, so I finished it in a couple of hours. The ending is satisfying, but leaves a lot open for more adventures to come. I'll be keeping an eye out for the sequel.

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


Buy from Amazon

Thursday, 19 October 2017

On McPig's wishlist - Like Never and Always


Like Never and Always
by Ann Aguirre


A dark, romantic YA Suspense edged in SF and with plenty of angst, layering the secrets we keep and how well we truly know the ones we love best.

On a hot summer night, a screech of brakes and shattering glass changes two lives forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital, confused when they call her Morgan. She assumes it’s a case of mistaken identity, yet when the bandages come off, it’s not her face in the mirror anymore. It’s her best friend Morgan’s.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life, yet Liv must navigate endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety—and a romance that feels like a betrayal. Torn between the boy she loved as Liv and the boy she’s grown to love as Morgan, Liv still has to survive Morgan’s last request.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre deftly weaves an enthralling tale of twisted realities, salacious intrigue, and pulsing, page-turning suspense. This is Ann at her best, an extraordinary tale of endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety—and a romance that feels like a betrayal.



Expected publication: July 17th 2018 by Tor Teen

pre-order at bookdepository

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

White Trash Zombie Unchained - Book Review


White Trash Zombie Unchained (White Trash Zombie #6)
by Diana Rowland


What is it about:
Angel Crawford has finally pulled herself together (literally!) after her disastrous dismemberment on Mardi Gras. She’s putting the pieces of her life back in order and is ready to tackle whatever the future holds.

Too bad the future is a nasty bitch. There’s a new kind of zombie in town: mindless shamblers, infectious and ravenous.

With the threat of a full-blown shambler pandemic looming, and a loved one stricken, Angel and the “real” zombies scramble to find a cure. Yet when Angel uncovers the true reason the plague is spreading so quickly, she adds “no-holds-barred revenge” to her to-do list.

Angel is busting her ass dealing with shambling hordes, zombie gators, government jerks, and way too many mosquitos, but this white trash chick ain’t giving up.

Good thing, since the fate of the world is resting on her undead shoulders.


What did I think of it:
I love this series.

In this book Angel has just recovered from literally falling apart, only to discover there are shamblers about and that there's a leak within the zombie organisation she's a part of.

With stuff like that going on, there's not a dull moment in this book. I was hooked from the start and had a hard time putting the book down. Angel is resourceful, smart and has great instincts, which lead her in the right direction to try and save the day, but it also puts her in the line of fire.

There are developments both with old characters and new ones. One seemed to go a bit fast, but for the sake of the story I was willing to go with it. I'm also starting to like angel's father more and more I must say.

All in all a great read. I hope there will be more books in this series, because this series keeps getting better and better.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool zombie read with gators!


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 17 October 2017

Teaser Tuesdays - The Mediator


"Murder?" Suddenly, I forget all about the prom.
"What about a murder?"

(page 372, The Mediator Omnibus - Ninth Key by Meg Cabot)


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, 16 October 2017

There's Someone Inside Your House - Book Review


There's Someone Inside Your House
by Stephanie Perkins


What is it about:
Over a year after her parents sent her away from Hawaii to live with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska, Makani Young is still adjusting to her new life. She's made a small group of close friends and even flirted with romance, but her past in Hawaii is still hard to forget. And then . . . one by one the students of her new high school begin to die in a series of gruesome murders.

Makani doesn't know who's next on the list. Between this, and a secret scorching relationship with the school weirdo, this school year may turn out to be one to die for . . . literally.


What did I think of it:
I picked this book up because Voodoo Bride liked two of the three other books by Perkins that she read, and because this sounded like a nice Halloween read.

I did enjoy this book, but can't say it's in anyway scary though.

The book started out with a murder and I was hoping for it to continue like this, but that was not to be. The story turned out to be more of a love story between Makani and outsider Ollie than an actual slasher. After the first murder there are 5 chapters that are mainly about Makani, her mysterious past that isn't actually named until much, much later, and Ollie.

Not that I minded. The romance between Makani and Ollie was awkward and cute, and I also liked Makani's grandmother and friends (although their role could have been bigger). So after the initial disappointment that this was less suspenseful than I hoped, I settled in and enjoyed this romantic slasher-light.

There are more murders after the first 6 chapters, and Perkins mostly avoided the cliches I feared would be used. All in all not the scary read I was looking for, but entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless. I'll keep an eye out to see what Perkins writes next.

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


Buy from bookdepository

Friday, 13 October 2017

Angel-Seeker - Book Review


Angel-Seeker (Samaria Published Order #5/chronological #3)
by Sharon Shinn


What is it about:
The award-winning author returns to Samaria in this richly romantic tale that begins where Archangel left off. In that time, the women who craved the attention of angels were known as angel-seekers, a term used with awe by some--and scorn by others.

What did I think of it:
Of the Samaria books this one is most easily read as a standalone as the action and romance mostly isn't connected to the larger worldbuilding that is going on in this series.

This tells the story of two very different women: Elizabeth - a young woman who dreams of nothing more than finding an angel-lover and carrying his angelic offspring. And Rebekah - a young Jansai woman, who has her life planned out for her by the males in her family and grudgingly accepts this. Until she finds a wounded angel that is...

I will confess that although Elizabeth's journey to love and happiness is really well written, I just never clicked with her, even on rereads. She's too shallow at first and her change seems to go too smoothly. Still it's a nice story that shows that dreams don't always come true the way you want.

I love Rebekah's story. I know: the Jansai are once again all painted as scum, with Rebekah's younger brother as the one exception. Still I love the romance between her and Obediah. I love how she is so attracted to the angel that she can't stay away from him, but still refuses to leave her confined, but certain life behind for him and an uncertain life of freedom.

It's this love story that makes me reread this book and grumblingly accept the black and white worldbuilding. For fans of the series there are also cameos of characters from Archangel, and it gives a view of how people move on from events in that book as well.

All in all a very enjoyable read that I'm sure to revisit again in the future.

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


buy from bookdepository

Thursday, 12 October 2017

In McPig's TBR pile - Dead in the Family

Sookie and I have a rocky relationship. She even made me so angry it took me years to pick up book 9 after reading book 8. Still the overall world and the writing is cool, so I might pick this book up as my next TBR Orphan.


Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10)
by Charlaine Harris


It's all about family ...

Sookie Stackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from her own kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a place in her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arrives with Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie's tracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), Vampire Bill Compton.

In addition to the multitude of family issues complicating her life, the werewolf pack of Shreveport has asked Sookie for a special favour, and since Sookie is an obliging young woman, she agrees. But this favour for the wolves has dire results for Sookie, who is still recovering from the trauma of her abduction during the Fairy War.



Buy from bookdepository

Wednesday, 11 October 2017

Flight - Book Review


Flight (Samaria #1.5 chronological order)
by Sharon Shinn


What is it about:
The anthology Quatrain contains 4 stories, but I'm only reviewing one of them at the moment:

Flight
To be chosen as the lover of an angel is the highest honor in Samaria, but narrator Salome knows the hidden dangers of such a life and tries to warn her niece Sheba.


What did I think of it:
When rereading the Samaria books I discovered I didn't have all the short stories yet, so got my trotters on Quatrain which contains the Samaria story Flight.

I will confess: although this is a nice story, it's my least favorite of the shorter stories. This might have to do with the fact I do not like it when older siblings or family members try to interfere with the choices of the younger sibling/family member.

I liked discovering Salome's past and I liked how she got a second chance at something that went wrong so long ago, but I must say I could really understand why Sheba acts like she does. Salome is acting much too smothering.

All in all a nice story, but it won't be high on my reread list. I might give the other stories in this book a try and see if there's another series by Shinn I should give a try.

Why should you read it:
This one is for fans of the series. Don't use it as a start.


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Teaser Tuesdays - Ashes of the Phoenix


Right now, he was her best option.
Her only option, if she was being honest.

(page 25, Ashes of the Phoenix by Jess Haines)


Buy from Amazon

---------

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, 9 October 2017

Seeded By The Alien Tentacle King - Book Review by Voodoo Bride


Seeded By The Alien Tentacle King
by Maci Bright


What is it about:
Amanda is fed up with her life and decides to take a break from it all.

A king in need of someone like her has been waiting. Will Amanda be able to give the king and his two bodyguards what they need....


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
After the disappointing lack of tentacle action in Tentacle Lord I went in search of something better. After two tries that went wrong (first was ridiculous, second was disturbing) I stumbled across this title.

And if you're looking for creative tentacle action this is a fun quick read. No romance build up, just a small bit of actual story, lots of tentacles.

It's a short read, so there's not much more than I already mentioned. If anyone knows of a book that combines a great story with some tentacle or other alien action, let me know.

Why should you read it:
Tentacles!


Buy from Amazon

Sunday, 8 October 2017

Tentacle Lord - Book Review by Voodoo Bride


Tentacle Lord (Tentacle Lord #1/#5)
by M. La Mer


What is it about:
Stranded on a decaying 19th century lighthouse out at sea, a beautiful and wealthy socialite wants nothing more than to return to the comforts she knows. Yet when a mysterious, intimidating stranger living within the lighthouse makes himself known, her desire to return to an unfulfilling life on the mainland is put on indefinite hold.

Unable to resist his multiple arms and fiery passion, Margaret finds she is desperate to get close to the tormented man/creature who has opened her up to discover and explore her own dark desires before the outside world threatens to intervene.


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I ran into this title and was too curious to resist. The story is divided into 5 separate novellas, and I decided that if I was going to indulge in something called Tentacle Lord anyway I might as well get the boxed set that contained them all.

While reading this series of adventures I was torn between two thoughts: "WTF am I reading" and "I expected more tentacles".

This series is described as an ongoing romantic adventure story. Well, there is indeed adventure. The first novella is about how Margaret gets involved with the Tentacle Lord, Corwin. (I must say even after finishing the series I'm not sure where the Lord part comes from except that it sounds cool.) It involves murderous husbands, crashing helicopters, and instalove.

In the next four books Margaret and Corwin have all kinds of outrageous adventures, including a sort of The Island of Dr. Moreau, a SciFi, and a straight up kidnapping. Luckily for the both of them there's time for a little sensual tentacle action along the way.

And there's where this series is lacking in my opinion. With a story called Tentacle Lord, with such outlandish adventures, and warnings of mature content, I would have expected both more tentacle action and creative tentacle action. Alas...

All in all this is a wildly unbelievable and erratic series, but if you're looking for a 'WTF is happening' read that's not too daring on the tentacle action, this is an entertaining series.

Now to find a tentacle read that's a bit more heavy on the tentacles.

Why should you read it:
It's a highly entertaining read.


Buy from Amazon

Friday, 6 October 2017

A Long And Wild Hunt - Early Book Review


A Long And Wild Hunt (Dark Heart Chronicles #2)
by Merrie Destefano


What is it about:
Trapped in a cursed forest with the boyfriend who murdered her wasn’t how Katrina planned to spend the Afterlife. She might be a ghoul and hell-bent on revenge, but that doesn’t mean she has to be miserable.

Or does it?

Someone or something has been singing at night, a voice that makes her wonder if there’s still hope. It actually makes her want to right one of her many wrongs. If she could help another ghost find its way out of this wood—to be buried on hallowed ground—then Katrina will know she’s not truly a monster.

But what if the magical creature who cursed this wood finds out her plans? And what if he offers her what she’s been longing for ever since she was murdered?

Revenge in the Afterlife isn’t what she expected.

Neither is love.


What did I think of it:
This story continues where A Dark Twisted Heart left off, but this time it's told from Katrina's point of view.

I liked this story and Katrina's thoughts on everything that happened. I also liked how she tries to stay in control of her afterlife.

What did throw me is that this story changed from a spooky, ghostly read into something more fantastical, and I had to adjust my expectations of the story midway. Not that this is a bad thing. I liked the developments, however unexpected they were for me.

All in all this is yet another cool read and an enjoyable follow up on A Dark and Twisted Heart. I will keep my eyes out for the next work by Destefano.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Halloween read.


Find buy links here

Thursday, 5 October 2017

To DNF or not to DNF - Getting Wilde


Getting Wilde (Immortal Vegas, #1)
by Jenn Stark


What is it about:
Using her well-worn Tarot deck, magical-artifacts hunter Sara Wilde can find anything—for a price. And the price had better be right, since she needs to finance her own personal mission to rescue several young psychics recently sold on the paranormal black market.

Enter Sara’s most mysterious client and occasional lover, the wickedly sexy Magician, with a job that could yield the ultimate payday. All she’ll have to do is get behind Vatican walls… and steal the Devil himself.

But play with the Devil and you’re bound to get burned.

Pressure mounts for Sara to join the Magician’s ancient and mysterious Arcana Council, as militant forces unleashed by even darker powers seek to destroy all magic—including the young psychics Sara is desperate to keep safe. The Council may be their only hope. . . but it could also expose Sara’s own dark past.

From the twisting catacombs of Rome to the neon streets of Vegas, Sara confronts ancient enemies, powerful demigods, a roiling magical underworld about to explode… and immortal passions that might require the ultimate sacrifice. But oh, what a way to go.

No matter how the cards play out, things are about to get Wilde.


My thoughts:
Right from the start there's a big jerk wanting things from Sara and Sara being a push over.

I will confess I didn't read much further then the first 20 to 30 pages before picking up another book. Still I feel like I should give it another chance if only because of the pretty cover.

Anyone read this and can give me advice?


Buy from bookdepository

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

The Wizards of Once - Book Review


The Wizards of Once (The Wizards of Once #1)
by Cressida Cowell


What is it about:
Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests.

Wizard boy, Xar, should have come in to his magic by now, but he hasn't, so he wants to find a witch and steal its magic for himself. But if he's got any chance of finding one, he will have to travel into the forbidden Badwoods.

Xar doesn't realise he is about to capture an entirely different kind of enemy. A Warrior girl called Wish.

And inside this book, at this very moment, two worlds collide and the fate of the land is changed forever.

Xar and Wish must visit the dungeons at Warrior fort, and face the evil Queen.

But something that has been sleeping for hundreds of years is stirring...


What did I think of it:
So this was totally a cover buy, although the story sounded fun as well. When the book arrived it turned out it was full of beautiful illustrations as well.


The book is a children's book, but a treat for any fan of Fantastical stories. I very much enjoyed the antics of Xar and his companions, and I really liked Wish and her bodyguard assistant Bodkin.

The illustrations show scenes in the story, but are also used as a storytelling device. Like in the part of the books that shows Xar's spelling book.

The story is both fun and suspenseful. Xar and Wish have to team up to get themselves out of trouble and to keep horrible things from happening. This book ends with some major storylines resolved, but also leaves enough open to keep you guessing what things might come next for Xar and Wish.

All in all a very enjoyable and action-packed read, and a beautiful addition to my keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful and fun Fantasy read.


Buy from bookdepository

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Teaser Tuesdays - White Trash Zombie Unchained


"Could be worse," Brian said, mouth crooked in a smile. "That gator could've bitten your face off."

(page 84, White Trash Zombie Unchained by Diana Rowland)


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, 2 October 2017

In Evil Times - Book Review


In Evil Times (Imperials #2)
by Melinda M. Snodgrass


What is it about:
Scholarship student Thracius "Tracy" Belmanor and Princess Mercedes de Arango have graduated from the High Ground and become officers in the Orden de la Estrella. Stung by Mercedes' choice of Beauregard "Boho" Cullen as her consort, Tracy is glad that they are posted on battleships light years apart, but soon finds that without her protection he is nothing but a target.

Meanwhile, Mercedes' posting has its own challenges, not least her unfaithful husband.Both young officers find themselves part of forced "assimilations" of settlers on Hidden Worlds, which lead them to doubt the intentions of the Solar League. And when Tracy witnesses an horrific event that threatens the fragile human and alien peace, Mercedes must decide where her loyalties truly lie...


What did I think of it:
I loved the first book in this series and really liked Tracy and Mercedes.

In this book I really started to loathe Tracy. Was he this much of a dick to his alien servant in The High Ground and didn't I notice? Or is he the typical person who when bullied by people of higher rank will lick up and kick down?

And Mercedes wasn't at her best either. I seriously started to root for the aliens, because all the humans were big jerks.

Even so I very much enjoyed this book. The world building and the story are great. Even without a lead character to root for I was invested in the story and wanted to find out what would happen next.

There are a few time jumps in this story, so at the end of this book years have passed since Tracy and Mercedes graduated from the academy. Lots of events have shaped them and the world they live in. Even though I disliked them both by the end of this book, I'm eager to see what will come next for them and the other humans. A big part of me hopes there will be a reckoning.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool SF read.


Buy from bookdepository

Sunday, 1 October 2017

TBR Orphan Update - Still on Track


I read one orphaned book in September.
I pre-ordered White Trash Zombie Gone Wild back in 2015, but it took the arrival of the next book in the series to pick this one up to catch up with Angel's adventures. I'll have to make sure that White Trash Zombie Unchained will not wither on my shelves for almost two years as well.

I still have trouble concentrating on my reading, so I do confess I read lots of shorter stories and reread some favorites in September.

How did your challenges go?