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.


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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.


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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?


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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.


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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)


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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!

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.


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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?