Top Pearls 2013 - part 1

Here are 12 of 24 books we read this year that we wanted to give a shout-out, because they're really cool.
I haven't included the books that (will) have their own shout-out and giveaway post (except one).

Click the titles to go to my review, and stay tuned for part 2!


Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin
This is a wonderful Fantasy Romance with a swoonworthy hero according to Voodoo Bride.

Absolution by Susannah Sandlin
A Paranormal Romance with yet another awesome hero, and with a solid action storyline that made this a great read for both Voodoo Bride and me.

100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes
This zombie retelling of Dante's Inferno is so cool I bought a print version after I finished reading the ebook.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
An awesome Post Apocalyptic YA.


Horde by Ann Aguirre
The epic conclusion of an amazing Post Apocalyptic YA trilogy.

White Cat by Holly Black
A cool Paranormal YA about a boy who grew up in a family of con men.

Angelfall by Susan Ee
Who knew books about angels could be this awesomely gritty? A great Post Apocalyptic YA.

Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson
The third book in a really cool UF series that keeps getting better and better.


Alien Research by Gini Koch
A great addition to a SF series that is cool, funny, and a pleasure to read.

The Outside by Laura Bickle
Words are not enough to tell you how awesome this 2nd book in a Post Apocalyptic duology with Amish and vampires is.

Forsaken by the Others by Jess Haines
What makes an already amazing UF series even better: Zombies!

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
A really fun and suspenseful Paranormal YA.

Alliance Forged - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Alliance Forged (The Light Blade #2)
by Kylie Griffin

What is it about:
Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart the war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human—is an alliance. However when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.

What did Voodoo bride think of it:
I totally love this book.

I already told you I'm falling more and more in love with this world with each new book I read in this series and that again was true when reading Alliance Forged. I can only hope Griffin will write more books in this series, because I'm slightly addicted to this fantasy world full of demons and half demons.

And the romance!
Varian and Kymora are my favorite couple so far. Varian is such a delicious, tortured hero, and the blind Kymora is a really great heroine as well. She's strong and capable and not afraid to confront Varian when all others are afraid of him. The romance between them was both intense and sweet.

The action storyline is a continuation from the first book, but things are explained enough that you could read this as a standalone. Of course there are some things that might make you wonder, but not annoyingly so I think.

All in all this is an intense and delicious read and I will reread this book and the other two regularly while hoping a fourth book will be released.

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

Vengeance Born - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1)
by Kylie Griffin

What is it about:
Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish king, longs for more than a tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

With the Na'Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na'Reish horde have increased. As chosen leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons—and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father's dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council—and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into a civil war...

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I read the third book in this series first, but I liked that book so much I just had to read the other books as well, so that's why I picked up Vengeance Born.

And luckily this book doesn't disappoint and is just as enjoyable as Allegiance Sworn.

I loved the character development and the pacing of the romance. When Kalan and Annika meet there's lots of distrust and unease between the two of them and I was happy that Griffin chose to make both of them work to overcome their initial feelings. This made the romance believable and very satisfying.

I already told you how much I liked the world building in my review of Allegiance Sworn, but I have to say once again: the setting and world in this series is really cool. I grow to love this world more with each book that I read.

The action storyline is well woven in with the romantic storyline and is very suspenseful. There's danger, betrayal and secrets to be uncovered. Although this book can be read as a standalone romance the overall world storyline isn't finshed yet and is intriguing enough to make me want to read the next book as soon as possible. That I met the lead characters of the next book in Vengeance Born and am very eager to read their story helped in bumping Alliance Forged to the top of my wishlist.

All in all this is a very enjoyable read and I already got my hands on book 2, so expect a review of Alliance Forged soon.

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

Allegiance Sworn - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Allegiance Sworn (The Light Blade #3)
by Kylie Griffin

What is it about:
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

What did Voodoo Bride Think of it:
This is a very enjoyable read.

It may be the third book in a series, but it's perfectly readable as a standalone. As far as I understand it these books are connected because of the overall storylines, but each book is focused on a different couple.

The world building was very intriguing. The idea of the different demon clans and castes was interesting and lend itself well for a suspenseful story. The setting alone would have been enough to keep me reading to find out more, luckily the story and romance were really good as well.

I loved the setup of the romance: instead of a vulnerable heroine it's the hero who is put in the vulnerable position and it's Imhara who has the upperhand in their relationship. I loved the interaction between Imhara and Arek. Both have to learn to trust and the tension between them was well written.

It's clear that the things that are happening in the action storyline will have their consequences in future books, but the ending of this book isn't a cliffhanger, it's rounded enough that you can put the book away feeling content about the story instead of frustrated. It does make you curious about what might happen next though.

All in all this is a delicious Fantasy Romance with a really cool action storyline as well. I will try to get my hands on the earlier books in this series, because I want to read more about this intriguing world.

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