Larcout - Book Review

Larcout (Fire Born, Blood Blessed Book 1)
by K.A. Krantz

What is it about:
Blood-beings can be chattel or char.

Fire seethes through the veins of every Morsam, demanding domination and destruction. Combat is a hobby. Slaughtering the inferior blood-beings is entertainment. Life is a repetitious cycle in the prison fashioned by the gods. But mix-race abomination Vadrigyn os Harlo suspects the key to freedom lies with safeguarding the blood-beings; until her blood-born mother uses foreign magic to turn the Morsam against Vadrigyn. Betrayed, bound, and broken, Vadrigyn struggles against the dying of her essential fire. Yet the ebbing flames unleash the dormant magic of her mixed heritage…

The magic to destroy free will.

Seized by the gods and dumped in the desert nation of Larcout to stop history from repeating, Vadrigyn discovers her mother’s legacy of treason and slaughter still festers. To survive the intrigues of the royal court, the roiling undercurrents of civil war, and the gods themselves, Vadrigyn must unravel the conspiracy behind her mother’s banishment. But manipulating free will unleashes a torrent of consequences.

If she fails the gods, she will return to the Morsam prison, stripped of all magic and all hope.

If she succeeds, she can rule a nation.

Kasthu. Roborgu. Inarchma.
Live. Learn. Burn.

What did I think of it:
This is a really cool Fantasy read.

Vadrigyn is an unusual, but great heroine. She's without guile and used to using her strength and the poisonous parasites that live in her body to survive. But then she is taken from the kill or be killed world she grew up in and lands in a world where intrigue and deceit are the weapons of choice. She has to learn how to find her place in this world to keep alive.

I love the world building in this book. The different Gods and races are really interesting and intriguing. This book focuses most on the Larcoutians and the Morsam, but the glimpses that were given of the other races were really cool as well. I hope there will be more of them in the next book.

The magic that is used by the Larcoutians and how their society deals with that magic is well worked out and believable. Their society is a scary and brutal one beneath the civilized surface in my opinion. I enjoyed how you slowly find out more and more about Larcout.

The story is complex and the secrets Vadrigyn is trying to uncover are dangerous. I was hooked from the start and kept trying to figure out what was going on and who was to trust. There were some really likeable characters, and some that I loathed. At times I was really nervous about the safety of my favorite characters.

The names that are used aren't common names and took some getting used to, but they were all different enough that I didn't have to track back to figure out who's who, like sometimes happens when an author uses names that sound too much alike.

All in all this is a really great Fantasy read, filled with conspiracies and cool action. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, to see what happens next for Vadrigyn.

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




Find Buy Links to the ebook here

Teaser Tuesdays - Under a Graveyard Sky

Faith suddenly found herself wrestling a zombie completely alone in the corridor.
"Thanks for all the help and support!" she screamed.

(page 154, Under a Graveyard Sky by John Ringo)




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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!

Under His Touch - Book review by Voodoo Bride (repost)

To celebrate the release of Under Contract earlier this week, today a repost of the review of Under His Touch, book two in the Falling Under series.


Under His Touch (Falling Under #2)
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
Amber Dolors knows better than to get involved with her boss. Devastatingly handsome in his sharp suits and sexy beyond belief, he possesses an air of command that fuels her darkest fantasies. But she's worked too hard to get this job, and keeping it will lead to a brilliant future. She won't cross that line—even if his way of giving orders and demanding her best performance gives her delicious warm shivers.

Alexander Knight prides himself on his integrity and self-discipline. After all, he hasn't risen to the position he enjoys by indulging his whims over ambition. He also isn't blind. He's certainly noticed his sharp, young assistant is hot as hell. His self-imposed sexual hermitage doesn't stop him from watching her. And endlessly fantasizing.

The day Alec's cool reserve cracks and Amber catches a glimpse of something simmering beneath his apparent indifference is the day everything between them changes. Alec gives her what she's been looking for sexually—as masterful in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom. He finds himself in the grip of an affair that tests even his boundaries, while Amber's new role as willing student pushes them both past any consideration other than mutual longing.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Jeffe delivered yet another delicious read!

This book has so much goodness to offer its readers.

There's steaming hot scenes, emotional scenes, and a very compelling romance.

I liked how it is Amber who is the stronger of the two, even though she's younger and the submissive. She knows herself and what she wants, something that Alec still has to figure out for himself. Their interaction is full of tension, both sexual and emotional. I very much enjoyed reading how they explore their feelings and wants together.

Something else I really enjoyed is how Jeffe used one of my favorite comic book characters (Dream from the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman) as a comparison to Alec and his growth throughout the book. I know as a big fan of this comic book series it will probably have an extra layer for me, but for those not familiar with the comic it is written in a way you won't feel lost.

All in all this is a delightful, and awesome BDSM romance that I will most certainly reread in the future. I'll be getting my hands on the last book in this series once it releases for sure.

Why should you read it:
It's a deliciously hot and intense BDSM read


Find buy links here

Going Under - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (repost)

To celebrate the release of Under Contract earlier this week, a repost of Voodoo Bride's review of Going Under, the first book in the Falling Under series.


Going Under (Falling Under #1)
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
Knowing all too well the damage online trolls can inflict, game designer Emily Bartwell takes privacy seriously. Living in solitude and working remotely under a male alias gives her a sense of security. The sexy writer renting the house next door ignites desires she’d forgotten she had, and when he invites her to play games of a very different sort, Em is ready and willing. Even if it means breaking all her own rules to abide by his.

Undercover tech reporter Fox Mullins is so close to the biggest scoop of his career: finding the elusive programmer Phoenix. An increasingly erotic adventure with his reserved but passionate new neighbor is the ideal way to heat up the chilly Pacific Northwest nights as he tracks the brilliant gamer.

At first Fox is happy to help Em explore her newly awakened kinky side, no holds barred, no strings attached. But as they push the limits of intimacy, both physical and emotional, Fox discovers he’s not the only one keeping secrets. And revealing hers may mean betraying the one woman who embodies everything he desires.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a delicious read.

Being a female gamer myself lots of the things in this story were recognizable, although luckily I've never encountered the kind of trolls Emily encountered. The references to online games, and other geek culture things (Cthulhu lamp!) made me smile and feel like I wanted to be friends with Emily. I liked her from the start and wanted her to be happy.

And then there's Fox. Yum!

I loved the interaction between Emily and Fox. Emily is wary at first, but when she decides to indulge herself, things get steamy and deliciously kinky. Jeffe Kennedy is a master at writing empowering BDSM stories, showing that submitting isn't a weakness, but instead can be about strength. Going Under is no different in that than her other stories, and it's why I love reading Jeffe's work.

The secrets between Emily and Fox do lead to some tense situations, and I will confess I was concerned about the outcome. But Jeffe doesn't disappoint there either and I was very satisfied with the ending.

All in all this is another winner, and I'm already looking forward to Jeffe's next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a steaming hot BDSM read.


Buy from Carina Press

Teaser Tuesdays - Under Contract

To celebrate the release of Under Contract yesterday, a small teaser


“I can’t believe we’re discussing this. I’m thinking now that you might be very warped.”
He laughed, delighted with her. “Fun, isn’t it?”

(Under Contract by Jeffe Kennedy)

Buy from:
Amazon - B&N - Kobo

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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!

Under Contract - Release Day Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Under Contract (Falling Under #3)
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
Ryan Black has admired Celestina Sala from afar for years, her lush body and sensual nature calling to the dominant in him. For just as many years, Celestina was off-limits—married, proud and self-sufficient. But all that has changed, and now Celestina is in debt and in need…and available. Ryan proposes a contract: he'll pay off her debt if she gives herself to him in bed, yielding control in exchange for the pain and pleasure he'll bring them both.

There are words for women who take money for sex, and none of them are nice ones. Celestina never thought she'd have to sink this low, but giving up control sounds more enticing than ever before. And suddenly it's not about having to give in to Ryan. It's about wanting to.

But when Ryan's dark past comes to light, they may both be in over their heads. The terms of his contract say her body is his…but her heart may be another story.

One thing is for sure—now that Ryan has Celestina, he can never let her go.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I should read more BDSM romance, because I really love the good ones that I read, but it's tricky. So often there's suddenly a menage, or other complications I do not want in my romance.

So every time Jeffe Kennedy has a new BDSM book out I rejoice, because her books have never disappointed me, or taken me into (for me) shady territory.

Under Contract is yet another wonderful BDSM romance that stole my heart.

Some readers might be uncomfortable at first about the deal Ryan and Celestina make, but I really liked how it was handled, and loved the edge it gave the romance.

Celestina is a wonderful heroine. She is in a difficult situation, but never does she become a victim. She has hidden strength. I also loved Ryan: both sophisticated and rough-edged, a delightful mix.

I will say that I was a bit apprehensive when I learned that Celestina takes care of her two nieces (children in romances can be really off-putting imo), but this part of the story was also really well done. The nieces were annoying and selfish at times, but never to a point where I wanted them gone. They added to the story in a believable way.

The romance is hot, intense, and with some delicious BDSM scenes. I was totally drawn into the story and couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

I will most certainly reread this whole series, and will be hoping Jeffe writes lots more BDSM romances.

Why should you read it:
It's a deliciously hot BDSM read.


Buy from:
Amazon - B&N - Kobo

Boy Proof - Book Review (repost)

After posting my review of Beige, I decided my review of Boy Proof earned a repost. So far this is my favorite book by Cecil Castellucci.


Boy Proof
by Cecil Castellucci

What is it about:
What happens when an antisocial cinephile meets up with the worldly new guy at school — a quick-witted artist who's savvy enough to see through her sci-fi disguise?

Meet Egg. Her real name is Victoria Jurgen, but she's renamed herself after the kick-ass heroine of her favorite sci-fi movie, Terminal Earth. Like her namesake, Egg dresses all in white, colors her eyebrows, and shaves her head. She always knows the right answers, she's always in control, and she's far too busy — taking photos for the school paper, meeting with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club, and hanging out at the creature shop with her dad, the special-effects makeup wizard — to be bothered with friends, much less members of the opposite sex. As far as Egg is concerned, she's boy proof, and she likes it that way.

But then Egg meets a boy named Max, a boy who's smart and funny and creative and cool...and happens to like Egg. Could this be the end of the world — at least as Egg knows it?

What did I think of it:
I picked this book up after reading Castellucci's Tin Star, because I was curious if her other books were just as good.

This book is even better in my opinion!

I devoured this book in one sitting. I just couldn't stop reading.

This is such a recognizable story. Egg is a bit of an outcast. She doesn't know how to fit in, and therefor has decided to close herself off from those around her. She's a bit of a know-it-all at times, but otherwise I could totally relate with her.

When Egg meets Max, she's so used to hiding inside the armor she built around herself that she doesn't know how to connect. All she knows how to do is push people away to keep from being hurt.

It was heartbreaking to see how Egg tries to find her place in the world, and tries to connect with the people around her. Being a nerd myself, and having dealt with lots of the same issues as Egg when in school, this story resonated with me, and I will confess there were a couple of scenes that made me cry.

All in all this is a beautiful story about being yourself, and figuring out where you belong. It reminded me at times of Tall, Thin and Blonde by Dyan Sheldon, a book that deals with the same kind of issues, and which I also love. I will most certainly reread this book, and I will check out more books by Castellucci as well.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful, touching Young Adult read.