The Emperor's Arrow - Book Review

The Emperor's Arrow
by Lauren D.M. Smith

What is it about:
The bride candidates have been summoned. Their numbers are many, yet only one is an Amazzi warrior. Only one would give her life to protect him.

Evony of Aureline, warrior of her people, has no intention of becoming a hideous old man's bride. Though her people have sworn their loyalty to the legendary emperor Galen, Evony knows little of courts and intrigue. It's simply not her world.

Yet it's on the palace training grounds where Evony's archery skills gain her the respect of soldiers and legates alike. The emperor himself takes notice of the beautiful, ruthless warrior. In turn, the young, steely eyed Galen is nothing at all what Evony expected.

This man could very well conquer her heart. But does he feel the same?

As the rivalry among the remaining bride candidates intensifies and the plot for the throne unfolds, Evony must make a grave choice: fulfill her destiny and protect her people or follow her heart and pursue true love.

Either way, the honor of the Amazzi people and the future of the empire now rests with Evony of Aureline. For she is the Emperor's Arrow.

What did I think of it:
I will confess: I fell in love with the cover of this book.

The story sounded cool as well though, so I got my grabby trotters on it even though it wasn't available in print.

And this is a very entertaining read.

I must say the set up reminded me of both Miss Congeniality and The Selection, but that certainly wasn't a bad thing.

The bride selection process wasn't used to its full potential I think, I would have loved to read more about that part of the story, but the events that the story did focus on made up for it.

I liked Evony and loved her interactions with Galen and the other people at the palace. The romance developed at a pleasant pace, although the romance conflict was handled a bit too easily I think. I wanted a bit more fire to that. Still, the romance was very satisfying.

As for the overall story I will confess I was suspecting all the wrong people of all the wrong things. This had probably more to do with how I think than with the writing though. My suspicions aside I had lots of fun with this book, and would most certainly read more by this author if the story appeals to me.

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


Find buy links here

On McPig's Wishlist - The Bane

The Bane (The Eden Trilogy #1)
by Keary Taylor

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and rereleased as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy.

Twelve Kingdoms/Uncharted Realms Giveaway

So I told you there would be a giveaway because Jeffe Kennedy is awesome.

Here it is!


Jeffe provided me with signed copies of both The Talon of The Hawk and The Pages of the Mind.
She also sent me bookmarks and cover flats of her next Uncharted Realms book The Edge of the Blade.

The total fanpiggy in me wants to hoard all of these goodies for myself, but giving them away has a higher chance of other people reading and falling in love with Jeffe's books, which might lead to more sales for Jeffe, so she'll continue writing, which in turn leads to more books for me to read, so a giveaway it is! (Yes, I'm mercenary even in my giveaways ;-)

Anyway...

So one reader of my blog will win:
- Signed copy of The Talon of the Hawk
- Signed copy of The Pages of the Mind
- a couple of bookmarks of The Pages of the Mind (and probably some Pearls Cast Before a McPig bookmarks)
- cover flat of The Edge of the Blade

I might randomly pick some other people who'll win just bookmarks as well.

Rules:
- Leave a comment telling me if you read one of Jeffe's books, or if you haven't, tell me about a book you love so much you would want to hoard all available copies if you could (or is that just me?).
- Leave a way for me to contact you
- Do so before August 20, 2016.
- A winner will be randomly selected soon after and contacted.

Open internationally to everyone who's legally allowed to enter.

Winner is - Bube

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*Pearls Cast Before a McPig and Jeffe Kennedy are both not responsible for any packages that might get lost in the mail*

Teaser Tuesdays - The High Ground

This starts out really good.


Mercedes felt a spasm of guilt and sadness that she had ruined something pretty because of one petulant act.
Was she about to ruin the League too because of one petulant act?

(page 31, The High Ground by Melinda Snodgrass)



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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!

TBR Orphans - Update

As you may have noticed I've taken an unscheduled blogging break last week.

I've been glued to my Xbox and Dragon Age Inquisition lately, so did not get a lot of reading done. Still I manged to read 2 Orphans (sort of) in Juli. I received the Vampire Destiny Omnibus in March and read two of the three books in the omnibus in July. As I'm reviewing them separately I think that counts as two Orphans.

To make up for my sloppy posting last week, there'll be a giveaway later this week. Well, to be honest - the giveaway is because Jeffe Kennedy is awesome, but more on that later this week.

UNITED Launch Blitz & Giveaway

Hey there, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of UNITED, the final book in the Alienated trilogy. Our star-crossed lovers Aelyx and Cara have overcome some heavy obstacles to be together—riotous mobs, alien hybrids, and worst of all, high school on two planets. Now to stay together they’ll have to unite their people against a common enemy, a threat more deadly than they ever imagined. (NBD, right?) I’ve written an ending to this trilogy that makes my heart happy, and I hope you’ll love the conclusion as much as I do!



What do reviewers have to say about the series?

“The author’s storyline is out of this world.” –VOYA on Alienated

“The unusual plot and world building are ingenious.” –Library Media Connection on Alienated

“If [the third novel] is as entertaining as this tale, it can’t come soon enough.” –Kirkus Reviews on Invaded

“A fun genre-blending series that will only gain traction as it continues.” –Booklist on Invaded

If you love hot aliens, snarky humans, and wild sci-fi adventure, make sure to pick up a copy of UNITED today. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/25XrSct
iBooks: http://apple.co/1sGfH1Z
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1tqvT7u
Book Depository (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1XpeAjN
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1Uc75wb


To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a set of all 3 mini-posters in the Alienated series—signed by me! The giveaway is open internationally.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

The Ninja's Daughter - Releasing Tomorrow!

The Ninja's Daughter (Shinobi Mystery #4)
by Susan Spann

Autumn, 1565: When an actor's daughter is murdered on the banks of Kyoto's Kamo River, master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo are the victim's only hope for justice.

As political tensions rise in the wake of the shogun's recent death, and rival warlords threaten war, the Kyoto police forbid an investigation of the killing, to keep the peace--but Hiro has a personal connection to the girl, and must avenge her. The secret investigation leads Hiro and Father Mateo deep into the exclusive world of Kyoto's theater guilds, where they quickly learn that nothing, and no one, is as it seems. With only a mysterious golden coin to guide them, the investigators uncover a forbidden love affair, a missing mask, and a dangerous link to corruption within the Kyoto police department that leaves Hiro and Father Mateo running for their lives.




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