Sunday 31 August 2014

Gates of Thread and Stone

Gates of Thread and Stone (Gates of Thread and Stone #1)

Gates of Thread and Stone by debut author Lori M. Lee is the first of the series of the same name.

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret- she can manipulate the threads of time.  When Kai was eight, she was found by Reeve on the riverbank, and her "brother" has taken care of her ever since.  Kai doesn't know where her ability comes from- or where she came from.  All that matters is that she and Reeve stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth.  Kai's only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper's son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

The Reeve disappears.  When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him.  She will leave the only home she's ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making.  But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face the shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

The Breakdown:
1. I absolutely loved this book.  The setting, characters, and the story all came together so perfectly.  I did not want to put this book down. The post-apocalyptic world, which I love post-apocalypse settings, worked so wonderfully, and the way Lee describes the setting makes it easy to picture the world she has created.

2. I really liked the loved and loyalty between Kai and Reev.  The way they made their own little family and lookout for each other in this world was great.  Kai never gives up on Reev, even when it would have been the easy way.

3. The relationship between Kai and Avan was so adorably awkward.  They were both attracted to each other, but each had trouble expressing their feelings.  I love that their relationship keeps growing and that they remain loyal to each other through all challenges they face.

4. Lee might be a budding master of secrets and subplots.  There are things that happen that I did not even realize were important until much later.  Plus so much is not what it seems, and there were quite a few shocks in the end. I cannot wait to see where Lee will take this series.

5. My only complaint is the use of the word mahjo during the book. I felt like the definition of the word changed several times during the story, whether it was magic, magic users, the gods or the descendants of the gods.  I felt like it was until the end that I got a grasp of what the word really meant.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Fairest
by Chanda Hahn

Friday 29 August 2014

Opposition

Opposition (Lux, #5)

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the final book of the Lux series.

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth.  But the lines between good and bad have been blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her- could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it mean betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion.  But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything- even what they cherish most- to ensure the survival of their friends... and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

The Breakdown:
1. The Lux series has been one of my favorite, and at first, I was a little disappointed in this book.  It seemed like JLA wrote a cliche alien wants to take over the world ending, but she end up adding a few nice twist in there that improved my opinion of the book.

2. I like that Katy has really improved in her powers as a hybrid.  She really has become a force to reckon with in this book.  Although, there are times when her inner musing annoy me a little.  She occasionally has the tendency to become the world is over kind of girl.  I do, however, love her numerous book and movie references

3. I do really like Katy and Daemon's relationship.  I like that is was not love at first site for them, but rather a building of the relationship between them.  They really care for each other, and they have some great banter at time.

4. I am a little disappointed that Luc still seems as mysterious as in previous books.  I would love to see him get his own story.

5. Speaking of other stories, Hunter and Serena from Obsession do end up being in this book, and playing an important role.  If you haven't read Obsession yet, I suggest it before reading this book.

To Read or Not to Read
Read

Currently Reading:
Gates of Thread and Stone
by Lori M. Lee

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Silver Shadows

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines, #5)

Silver Shadows is the newest of Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other.  But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surround by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves.  Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him...

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment of New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

The Breakdown:
1. Event though I only finished reading The Fiery Heart at the beginning of July, I could hardly wait to get my hands on this book. The ending that Mead leaves with had me dying to know what would come next. This book had a lot to answer for, and hoorah for Mead for doing it so well.  I think that she wrote Sydney and Adrian's separation perfectly. How each dealt with it said so much about their personalities.

2.  Sydney Sage has some serious awesomeness to her.  When it would have been easy to give into her tormentors psychological and physical torture, she stayed strong.  She even went so far as to help others in the same situation as herself, despite the problems it might cause her.  She never gives up on her love and on Adrian.

3. I was a little disappointed in how Adrian dealt with the separation at first.  He really seemed to give up there for minute, and lost hope and site to what was important to him. He did, however, redeem himself, and he did some pretty awesome stuff for Sydney once he got his head back together.

4.  In this book, Mead finally introduces us to the talked about other Sage sister, Carly.  She was not exactly what I expected based on Sydney's talk of her in previous books.  In fact, she, apparently, got some of that awesomeness that Sydney has.  I do hope she makes another appearance in the final book of the series.

5. This book packs some series action in it. Fires, blowing up cars, and a pretty intense chase scene through Vegas. Plus, the ending has me dying for the next book again.  I know that I called Jennifer L. Armentrout the Queen of Cliffhangers before, but Mead is doing her best to unseat her from that throne.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Opposition
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Monday 25 August 2014

Dark Skye

Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark #14)

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole is the latest book in her Immortals After Dark Series.

Eternal Obsession

As a boy, Thronos, prince of Skye Hall, loved Lanthe, a mischievous Sorceris girl who made him question everything about his Vrekener clan.  But when the two got caught in the middle of their families' wat, tragedy struck, leaving Thronos and Lanthe bitter enemies.  Though centuries have passed, nothing can cool his seething need for the beautiful enchantress who scarred his body- and left an even deeper impression on his soul.

Endless Yearning

Lanthe, a once-formidable sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors.  But she's never forgotten Thronos, the magnificent silver-eyes boy who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms.  One harrowing night changed everything between them.  Not he's a notorious warlord with a blood vendetta against Lanthe, hunting her relentlessly.

Can the Heat of Desire burn brighter than Vengeance?

With their families locking in conflict and battles raging all around them, will Thronos and Lanthe succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or will the fragile bond they formed so long ago spark a passion strong enough to withstand even the darkest doubts?

The Breakdown:
1. Cole had hinted at this pairing since book 6, Kiss of the Demon King. Lanthe and Thronos are definitely a pair that are from very different backgrounds.  Lanthe is a Soceri who are taught to regret nothing, and live their lives to the fullest.  Thronos is a Vrekener, who are rigid in their rules, and honestly a little bit of killjoys. It is definitely interesting to watch them learn to accept each other again after some many years as enemies.

2. I liked that Cole is finally showing what the world of the Vrekener's is like.  For so many books, they been kind of a mysterious angel like presence in the Lore. Plus in this book, they start to learn their own origins, which is not at all what Thronos expected.

3. I liked that this book showed that no Lorian clan is all good or all bad.  Their were gray areas, to which Thronos had to learn the hard way.

4. Oh, and this book Nix the Ever-Knowing, or Nucking-Futz Nix, is really starting to reveal her plans, and why she has meddle in so many other Loreans love lives.  It will be interesting to see where Cole takes the series next, especially since she reveals the fate of Furie, after so many books talking about it.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Silver Shadows
by Richelle Mead

Sunday 24 August 2014

Magic Breaks

Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels, #7)

Magic Breaks is the newest Kate Daniels book by Ilona Andrews.

As the mate to the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than is seems possible to juggle.  Not only is still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers.  Since Kate's connection to Roland had come out in the open, no one is safe- especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland's long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta.  When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she'll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear...

The Breakdown:
1.I really enjoy the world that Andrews has created in the Kate Daniels. The post- magic shift world is fascinating with magic and tech rolling in waves through the world.  I love that it is set in Atlanta, my home city, and being able to identify where places are in the book.  Also, I find it interesting to see how this new world with magic in it changes famous places in the city.

2.  I love that even after seven books into the series, that I can still see Kate develop as a character.  In the beginning she was the person who made almost no personal attachments to others, and was a strike first ask questions later kind of girl.  Now she has lots of people she cares about, and she is really thinking decisions through more often.

3. Kate and Curran are one of my favorite couples.  They balance each other so well, and they are equals in their partnership.  They help each other see perspective, and have great faith in each other. Plus, the banter between them is great.

4.  I really liked Desandra in this book. When she was introduced in the last book, Magic Rises, I was not so sure about her.  In this book, she proved herself to be smart, cunning, and funny. I do hope she makes more appearances in the future.

5. This book delve more into Kate's family history.  I have to say that Roland was not entirely what I expected.  And I wonder how things will play out in the future with him.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Dark Skye
by Kresley Cole

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Fast Track

Fast Track (Buchanan-Renard, #12)

Fast Track is the latest of Julie Garwood's Buchanan-Renard series.

Cordelia Kane has always been a daddy's girl- her father raised her alone after her mother died in a car crash when Cordelia was just two years old.  So when he has a serious heart attack, Cordelia is devastated, and the emotion is only intensified by the confusion she feels when he reveals the shocking truth about her mother.

Cordelia can't suppress her curiosity about the woman who gave birth to her, and when she discovers the answers to her questions lie in Sydney, Australia, she travels there to get them.

Hotel magnate Aiden Madison is Cordelia's best friend's older brother.  He's oblivious to the fact that she's had a crush on him for years.  When he gets railroaded into taking her along to Sydney on his company jet, he unknowingly puts her life at risk.  He's recently angered a powerful congressman by refusing to purchase overvalued land.  Congressman Chambers is not a man to let such an offense slide, and he has the resources to get even and to get what he wants.

The Breakdown:
1. I have been waiting for Cordelia's story, and I was pretty excited to see that it was her and Aiden. I really liked the way their story progressed.  I enjoyed the banter between the two of them, and that Cordelia is not afraid to stand up to Aiden despite him being a powerful, intimidating person.

2. One of my favorite scenes was from Cordelia's childhood, and first knew that Aiden was the one for her. Plus she schools two teenage boys on how cars work.

3. I enjoyed really getting to see the other two Madison brothers in this book.  In past books with the Chicago crew they were more mentioned that actually present.  I hope this means that they will be getting their own books in the future.

4.  My biggest complaint is that Cordelia gets a PhD in biochemistry, and she goes back to teaching high school chemistry. I just can't see why anyone with that PhD would be satisfied just teaching.

To Read or Not to Read
Read

Currently Reading
Magic Breaks
by Ilona Andrews

Monday 18 August 2014

The Girl from the Well

The Girl from the Well

The Girl from the Well is by debut author Rin Chupeco.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else.  And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret- one that would just kill to get out.

The Breakdown:
1. Chupeco creates an interesting mix of horror and Japanese culture. I think fans of The Ring and The Grudge will really enjoy this book.

2. I had a little trouble getting into the way the book is written from the perspective of Okiku, the ghost.  It is very voyeuristic for the most part since she rarely interacts with the other characters, just observes.

3. I think that description of the book lives a crucial part out. That Turk, the tattoo boy, cousin Callie plays an enormous role in this book.  She cares so much for her cousin. She will do anything so save, and puts her life in danger more than once to help him. I feel she is the big reason this book really worked.

4. I did love the descriptions of Japan. It really makes me want to visit there, and not just Tokyo.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you are a horror fan, this book is for you.

Currently Reading:
Fast Track
by Julie Garwood

Saturday 16 August 2014

If Only

If Only

If Only is A.J. Pine's debut NA novel.

Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend- which means it's been forever since she, well, you know.  But now she's off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect no-strings-attached match.  He's fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh.  So why can't she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together out the train's loo, kisses Jordan like she's never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn).. oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen.  But E.M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine's Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she's willing to go for the right guy.

The Breakdown:
1. I've had this book on my Kindle for like a month, since I won it in a contest from the Artsy Reader Girl along with some awesome swag from the book. I have been dying to read it, but I had a ton of my holds at the library come withing a week, and had to put of reading it until I got through those first. I just have to say that Pine starts out with quite the opening.  The train scene was intense, and wonderful, and had me falling in love with Jordan and Noah before evening getting to know them. It is an amazing connection between them right there, that it breaks my heart a little to watch them fight it for so long.

2. I love that as much as Jordan tries to be a right now girl with Griffin, in the end she really is a forever kind of girl. She struggles so much with it, but I am so glad to see her accept that it is who she is in the end. Being a forever kind of girl myself, I find her very relatable, plus her love of books and fictional boyfriends.

3. How can a girl not end up falling for Noah. The man carries around dog eared, annotated copy of his favorite book. While Gatsby may not be my book of choice for classic American lit, I do love a man with a love of reading.

4. Pine has possibly given me a new favorite quote: "I'm suddenly aware that my lack of success in the male/female relationship department might have something to do with my preference for boys made from words." I am pretty sure Pine just summed up my entire love life with that one line.

5. I am one that enjoys the slow burn build up to a relationship, and Noah and Jordan certainly qualify for that. They take their sweet time coming together, but the reward is pretty fantastic.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Girl from the Well
by Rin Chupeco

Friday 15 August 2014

The Book of Life

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3)

The Book of Life is the final book of the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness's enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies.  At Matthew's ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of Character from A Discovery of Witches- with one significant exception.  But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency.  In the trilogy's final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of  power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consquences.  In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using  ancient knowledge and modern science, for the hills of  Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.

The Breakdown:
1. It is interesting to that Diana is a weaver, when Harkness is quite the fantastic weaver of words herself. The story is wonderfully complex, and Harkness does so well in keeping her plot points hidden until the reader stumbles upon them. She also weaves together an amazing cast of interesting characters. Each of which has their on unique personality. I am never once bored reading this book.

2. I feel that Diana and Matthew grow so much in this book.  Each comes to accept who they are and what they must do to save their love and their family. Diana especially learns to accept the powers she has and the legacy she is a part of, which is a far cry from what she was in the beginning of the trilogy.

3. I love the supporting character so much in this book. Sarah, Ysabeau, Gallowglass,  Fernando, and Jack, I could go on and on, all do so much not only to aid in the story development, but in the growth of Diana and Matthew. I really get the feeling that Diana and Matthew would not be such wonderful characters without their supporting friends and family

3. I do have to admit that Harkness does this weird thing where she switches between third person and first person from Diana's perspective. It really threw me off at first, but  I think that she made it work for her in the end.  I am just not sure that many could pull that trick off.

4. OMG, all the juicy secrets that are revealed at last! This book really does answer all my pressing questions, and questions I did not even know to ask. So much goodness that I am just bursting at the seams to talk about, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone reading this review.

5. My only complaint is that I thought that Gallowglass's story was left unfinished. I really want more from him in the end.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
If Only
by A.J. Pine

Sunday 10 August 2014

Sinner

Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3.5)

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater is the follow up to her Wolves of Mercy Falls books.

Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance.  But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret- his ability to shift into a wold. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other.  But that feels like a lifetime ago.  Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

The Breakdown:
1. At the end of Forever, I was really asking myself if this the end of Cole and Isabel's story.  I felt like that Stiefvater left a lot unsaid between them, so I was super excited to hear about this book coming back to their story.  I am so glad to get more from these characters, because they are definitely some supporting characters that deserve their own story.

2.  I have said it before, but it is worth saying again, Stiefvater has a really lyrically quality to her writing. The words just flow so well that it is a beautiful.

3. Cole and Isabel are such complicated and almost tragic characters.  Cole, who feels to much, and has an overwhelming need to keep the rush up, previously with drugs, now with becoming a wolf.  Isabel, who strives so hard to feel nothing at all, to be indifferent to the world. They certainly make an interesting pair, and it only with each other that they really let their true self show.

4. Steifvater does a lovely job of bringing Cole and Isabel's story to a close. Just a warning, if you are looking for some Sam and Grace in this book, you will be sorely disappointed.  Other than a few mentions by Cole and a couple of phone calls, they are not in it.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Book of Life
by Deborah Harkness

Saturday 9 August 2014

Ruin and Rising

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha, #3)

Ruin and Rising is the last book of Leigh Bardugo's The Grisha trilogy.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint.  Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. 

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers.  But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields.  The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction- and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she's fighting for.

The Breakdown:
1. The first two books of The Grisha trilogy set high standards for Bardugo to deliver in the final book, and boy does she live up to the first two books, and then some.  She does an amazing job of bring the story of Alina and the Darkling and Ravka to an end. There is plenty of action, love, and some really great twist thrown in to the story.

2. Bardugo reveals some pretty amazing secrets in this book. She gives the us the origins of Morozova, surprises about the third amplifier, and even the Darkling's real name. She does such a wonderful job of bringing each of her secrets to life and really drawing the reader in to the story. It is definitely a hard book to put down.

3.  I simply adore Alina in this book. She has such a big burden on her shoulders with being a living saint, and the guilt she has over those she has lost. She is a strong character, and so caring when it would be easier to not to be, easier to hide or give into the Darkling's demands.  Plus, the love she has for Mal is a beautiful thing.

4. This was an amazing ending to a fabulous trilogy. Bardugo answered all the questions I had, and she did not leave me feeling like there was something missing at the end.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Sinner
by Maggie Stiefvater

Thursday 7 August 2014

Magic in the Air

Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)

Skin Game by Jim Butcher is the latest in the Dresden Files series.

Harry Dresden. Chicago's only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day...

Because ad Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do.  Usually, it's something awful

He doesn't know the half of it...

Mab just traded Harry's skills to pay off one of her debts.  And now he must help a group of supernatural villains- led by one of Harry's most dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone- to break into the highest security vault in town so they can then access the highest- security vault in the Nevernever.

It's a smash-and-grab job to recover the literal Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure hoard in the supernatural world- which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld and generally unpleasant character.  Worse, Dresden suspects that there is another game afoot that no one is talking about.  And he's dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience. Especially Harry.

Dresden's always been tricky, but he's going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess- assuming his own allies don't end up killing him before his enemies get the chance.

The Breakdown:
1. I love this series! Butcher does an amazing job of keeping the stories interesting.  Fifteen books into the series, plus numerous short stories, and he is still holding my interest from page one until the very end.

2. Butcher is a master of twist and subplots.  He always manages to surprise me.  Characters are not always who you think they are, good and bad both. This book is one the best in that aspect, so much subterfuge that he catches me by surprise more than once.

3. I love that Butcher brings back characters from other books all the time, and he never leaves me wondering whatever happen to. This book of course he brings back the villain I just love to hate in Nicodemus, plus several others that have had roles in other books.

4. I can just take a second to talk about Hades. Although his appearance was brief, I loved him. It is the way I like Hades written in books that incorporate Greek myth, not as the Greek version of the devil, but as the fair ruler of the Underworld.

5. How can I forget everyone's favorite wizard, Harry Dresden. He is a smart-ass that does not always know when to shut his mouth, and I totally love that about him.  Not to mention his copious amounts of movie quotes, because hey, I, too, live my life in movie quotes.  Plus, I feel like Harry grows a little each book, becoming a little wiser along his journey.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Ruin and Rising
by Leigh Burdugo

Sunday 3 August 2014

The Girl with the Windup Heart

The Girl with the Windup Heart (Steampunk Chronicles, #4)

The Girl with the Windup Heart is the final book in Kady Cross's The Steampunk Chronicles.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart, and part-automation like Mila.  But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off to find an independent life, one entirely her own.  Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist.  If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe- especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying.  But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long.  To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

The Breakdown:
1. Cross splits this book between Mila and Jack's story and Finley and Griffin's story which I think took a lot away from the development of either story.  Because she was trying to tell two very different stories at once, the book felt very rushed and like it was missing important details.

2. I did enjoy that there was more of Jack in this story, and that Cross really explained more about his past and his motives for what he does. I find Jack possibly the most intriguing characters of this series, and I really need to go back and read the novella about him.

3. The whole final confrontation with The Machinist ending up being a bit of a let down. I was definitely expecting something much grander that what Cross gave.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read just to finish out the story

Currently Reading:
Skin Game
by Jim Butcher

Sunrise

Sunrise (Ashfall, #3)

Sunrise is the final book of Mike Mullin's Ashfall series.

The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race.  Now, almost a year after the eruption the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapse completely.  The ham radio has gone silent.  Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors's constant companions.

When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and the adults are not facing stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever- and unthinkable sacrifice.  If they fail... they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.

The Breakdown:
1. Mullin does a fantastic job of painting a bleak picture of what happens when the world falls apart.  He showcase the best and the worst of humanity in times of disaster. His book gets me thinking just how would we respond if something like this really happened, and that just maybe the doomsday preppers are not as crazy as they seem.

2. I think that Alex is one of my favorite male characters. He is strong and smart, and knows what needs to be done to survive, but he never loses his humanity.  He continues to be kind and help others, even when they were not always nice to him. He is definitely someone I would want around if I needed to survive an apocalypse.

3. I like that Mullin continues to put development in to characters that are just supporting characters like Ed, Anna, and Ben. He continues to add to their personalities even if they are not the center of the story.

4. I think this was the perfect ending for this series, and it really showcased how far the characters, especially Alex and Darla, have come since the start of the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Saturday 2 August 2014

Endlessy

So I am little behind on my review updates since I have been on a Internal Medicine rotation and haven't had time to write them.  The upside is I will probably get three reviews out this weekend. Without further ado, the first review.
Endlessly (Paranormalcy, #3)

Endlessy by Keirsten White is the final book in her Paranormalcy trilogy.

In Endlessy, pink-loving, butt-kicking Evie has way too much on her to-do list.  Paranormals are begging her to open a faerie gate so they can leave the human world, something Evie's not sure she has the power to do.  The Dark Queen is torturing humans and must be destroyed.

On top of all that, Evie's prom is coming up.  She's not sure what to wear, and oh, yeah, her shape-sifting boyfriend, Lend, has been cursed so that he falls into an enchanted sleep whenever he and Evie are in the same room... and even Evie's ex-boyfriend, the faerie Reth, can't reverse the dark magic.

An epic battle is looming, and the choices Evie makes will determine the fate of the whole paranormal world- and her own life.

The Breakdown:
1. Honestly, I was worried how this book was going to go since the second book, Supernatually, was a bit of a drag.  Thankfully, White improved and returned to the storyline and characters that made me like the first book.  This book really brought everything together, including how most paranormals came into exist on Earth.

2. I start to really feel Evie's frustration in this book. It seems that everyone wants something from her, and instead of talking to her about it they manipulate her into doing it. I do feel that Evie starts to grow as a person in this book, and it makes me like her even more.

3. So Jack makes it back in this book, and he does redeem himself for that crap he did in Supernaturally. I found that I enjoyed his antics more in this book because I knew his true character from the beginning, and it did not feel as though they were just dragging out the story.

4. All in all I thought White did a good job of concluding the trilogy.  She answered questions and solved the issues that had come up in the previous books.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Girl with the Windup Heart
by Kady Cross