Thursday 30 July 2015

Secret of the Sevens

Secret of the Sevens

Secret of the Sevens is by debut author Lynn Lindquist.

Everyone at Singer, a boarding school for underprivileged kids, knows the urban legend of the Society of Seven.  Decades age, the original members of the secret guild for elite students murdered the school's founder and then perished in the fire they lit to hide the evidence.  Or so the story goes.  

Talan Michales doesn't care about Singer's past.  He's too focused on his future and the fact that he'll be homeless after he graduates in May.  To take his mind off it, he accepts a mysterious invitation to join a group calling itself the Sevens.  He expects pranks, parties, and perks.  Instead, he finds himself neck- deep in a conspiracy involving secret passages and cryptic riddles about the school's history.  Even worse, he's now tangles in a web of lies someone will kill to keep hidden.

The Breakdown:
1. Lindquist spins a fantastic mystery in this story. She lays out an intriguing mystery behind the Sevens and what happened to them.  She kept me guessing on not only what is going on, but who is behind the clues and who is betraying the school.

2. Talan was definitely an interesting character.  He is not the typical hero that I go for in a book, but I really enjoyed him.  He has serious abandonment issues, and trust issues, but despite this he is loyal to his friends, and tries to protect them even if it means isolating himself.  I love his character development as he learns to believe in a cause bigger than himself and his trust and feelings for Laney.

3. I like that while there is romance between Talan and Laney, that it is not the main focus of the story.  Lindquist does an excellent job of keeping the story focused on the Sevens and what happen to them and what is happening to the Singer school.  I also like that Talan and Laney that is a gradual attraction that has developed over most of their lives.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Sunday 26 July 2015

Talker 25

Talker 25 (Talker 25, #1)

Talker 25 is the first book in Joshua McCune's Talker 25 series.

Melisa Callahan has always hated the dragons.  They destroyed her mother, her family, her home.  And now she's been charged with collaborating with them, with being an insurgent, and she's been thrown into a cell to... well, to what?  Think about her nonexistent crimes? Think about how great her life once was? Think about James and her father, and her brother and the lies? Think about escaping, when everyone knows that's impossible since the ice stretches forever and the cold is unbearable and the dragons can't hear her any more.

Melissa Callahan is OTG.  Off the Grid. And so is Talker 1 and Talker 2 and Talker 3, 5, 7, 11, 22, 26... all of them talking, constantly talking, into the void. All of them waiting for an answer.

The Breakdown:
1. I really enjoyed the concept behind this book.  How does the world react to the sudden appearance of dragons and are they friend or foe? It was interesting how he developed both the human and dragon characters, and gave the different colors of dragons very distinctly different view points on the world.

2. Found the character of Melissa interesting.  On the one hand she really wants to hate the dragons for her mother's death, but on the other, once she talks to them, she begins to see more and starts caring for the youngest dragon.  Despite all that she has gone through, she is not broken by her imprisonment.  She is a super strong, and takes care of those she sees are needing it.

3. I loved that the story was broken down into two parts.  One Melissa's life before and the events that lead up to her being charged with being an insurgent, and then her life imprisoned.  There are some really interesting surprises thrown in by McClune that kept me guessing at times. Definitely can't wait to see what happens next for Melissa.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Shards of Hope

Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling, #14)

Shards of Hope is the latest book in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series.

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape.  But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization.  Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn't welcome outsiders.

And they must survive.  A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign.  Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain.  Zaira has no such hope.  She knows she's too damaged to return from the abyss.  Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden's passionate determination may not be enough- because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason.  For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken...like Zaira.

The Breakdown:
1. I love Singh's Psy-Changling series for both its romance and its thriller components, and this book did not disappoint in the least. I very much enjoyed the romance between Aden and Zaira.  Plus the conspiracy that Singh develops in the book is one that kept me guessing, and I can tell is going to be playing a part in future books.

2. In past books, Singh has offered glimpse of Aden, the man that the Arrow squad chose as their leader. I was super excited to see him get his own book. I very much enjoyed Aden as a character.  A man, whose own parents, thought him a disappointment because he was not powerful enough, but won the loyalty of the Arrows.  He cares so much about his people and making their life better. The way he cares for Zaira is so enduring, and how he refuses to give up on her, even when she has given up on herself.

3. Zaira, despite what her childhood was like, has amazing strength.  Her faith and trust in Aden is such a wonderful character trait.  I especially loved reading her interactions with children, even through she thinks she is broken, she cares for and protects the children around her with such fierceness.

4. Another thing I loved about this book is the deeper look into the mysterious Arrow squad and what lead to their rebellion from Ming LeBon.  I loved seeing how Aden, Zaira, and Vasic are working to improve Arrow life and easy them into the post-Silence era.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Thursday 16 July 2015

Terminal

Terminal (Virals, #5)

Terminal by Kathy and Brendan Reichs is the last book of the Virals series.

The Virals are back- but they're not the only pack in town anymore.  Terminal finds Tory Brennan- grandniece of the famous forensic anthropologist- and the rest of the Morris Island gang tracking a pack of rogue Virals who call themselves the Trinity.  The new pack was infected by a strain of supervirus created by Tory's nemesis and sometimes-crush, Chance Clayborne, who accidentally infected himself, too.

These red-eyed Virals have openly challenged Tory's pack for domination of Charleston, bringing on the attention of shadowy government organization intent on learning the secret to their powers.  Surviving it all is going to test the limits of the gang's abilities.

The Breakdown:
1. The Reichs do a great job of wrapping up the series in this book.  The bring the Virals story to a nice close, tying up any loose ends, and they did not leave me with any lingering questions when all was said and done.

2. I felt that Tory's character had some serious development in the this book.  She matures in the book, and is learning to deal with her feelings better in this book. Plus she finally confronts her feelings for Ben, which I have been waiting to happen for quite a while.

3. I liked that this book had a few surprises that I did not see coming.  The identity of the Trinity was a surprise, and I was not expecting the ending.  Overall very well done, in my opinion.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Monday 13 July 2015

Bonus Book: The Infinite

The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone, #2)

The Infinite by Lori M. Lee is the second book of the Gates of Thread and Stone series.

The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.

Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within.  Now, with a rebel force threateding the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.

To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles wot remind him what it means to be human.  And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels.  With the two people she cares about most on the opposites of a brewing way, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace.  But she's lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta's walls but also the entire city.

Kai must decide how much of her humanity she's willing to lose to protect the only family she's ever known.

The Breakdown:
1. In this book, Lee picks up a few months after the end of Gates of Thread and Stone. The changes in Ninurta are bringing about some interesting developments, and on the biggest thing, not even mentioned in the summary, is there is another city across the Outlands. Lee set some very interesting character struggles in this book with both Kai and Avan, and to some extent Reev.

2. Kai struggles in this book in accepting her  fate at Kronos heir.  She even subconsciously blocks her ability to manipulate the threads of time because of guilt and her desire to remain human. She is also struggling with the fact the Avan does not remember being human, and he is uncertain if he wants to remember.  I really think she grows as a character in this book, and learns to trust her herself and her gut feelings.  I cannot wait to see how she further develops as a character in the next book.

3. Avan, also, is undergoing many changes.  He has lost his inhumanity in becoming an Infinite and is slowly letting the powers and ideas Conquest over take him.  Despite his lost memories, he still has a very strong connection to Kai.  It is easy to see he cares deeply for her, and it is she that helps him to see good in humans.  I really loved Avan and Kai together in the first book, and I hope in the next book they can find their way back to each other and happiness.

4. Lee had some pretty exciting action in the book.  From dealing with rebels, finding new cities, and fighting monsters, there was hardly a dull moment.  There are definitely big things to come in the next book with problems within the Infinites, and magic making its way back into the world.  I can't wait for the next book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Wednesday 8 July 2015

An Ember in the Ashes

An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)

Debut author Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes is the first book of the series of the same name.

Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother.  The family ekes out an existence in the Empire's impoverished backstreets.  They do not challenge the Empire.  They've seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia's brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision.  In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire's greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school's finest soldier- and secretly, it most unwilling.  Elias wants to be free of the tyranny he's been trained to enforces.  He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined- and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

The Breakdown:
1. I very much enjoyed reading this book.  Tahir was a master of the dual perspective, which many authors cannot pull off well.  Elias and Laia had very unique voices and personalities that made reading both their chapters enjoying and different.

2. Tahir, also, mastered the subplots that really gave this book so many layers. She kept me guess at every turn at to what the end game was going to be, and what side all the characters would fall on.  Her characters are complex, and many of them had me wondering whether they were really friend or foe.

3. Loved both the characters of Laia and Elias.  Laia who loves her family, but is so afraid she is not brave enough, and not smart enough to be her dead parents legacy.  Despite how terrible things have gotten, she is determined to save the person that matters the most to her.  She has a quiet bravery and an unwavering loyality that I love about her. Elias is amazing is that he has not let the harshness of his schooling break him.  He is determined not to become a cruel man or let the darkness he sees in his mother overtake him.

4. Tahir created an amazing world in this book.  A mix of ancient Rome with bits of Persian legends and magic.  It makes for a interesting situations and settings.  I think one of my favorite scenes was at the Moon Festival where she presented the Scholar's not being beaten down, and where Laia and Elias really first encounter each other without having their guards up.  She uses such lovely imaginary that it was easy to see the colorful clothes and hear the music being played.

5. Wow, that ending really had me on the edge of my seat.  She sure knows how to end with a bang, and leave me dying for the next book. I cannot wait to see how things will play out, and how relationships will change because of it.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Monday 6 July 2015

Jennifer L. Armentrout Fans



Calling all JLA fans.  She is having a fantastic swag and book give-away to celebrate the upcoming release of Every Last Breath.  You can check it out, and read the first chapter of the book here: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/every-last-breath-2/

I don't know about y'all, but I am super excited about this book.  You cannot go wrong with a JLA book, especially when the title character is named Layla.


Friday 3 July 2015

Deity

Deity (Covenant, #3)

Deity is the third book of Jennifer L. Armentrout's The Covenant series.

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time."

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday-- to her Awakening.  A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"-- which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time-- she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule.  Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate.  One will do anything to protect her.  One has been lying to her since the beginning.  Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocable changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

The Breakdown:
1.  JLA really steps up the story in this book. She brings to light Lucian's plans for Seth and Alex, and also brings the gods into the mixture. There is plenty of action in this book, both in the literal sense and in the romantic sense.

2. Finally, in this book Alex and Aiden are on the same page.  Things really heat up between them in this book.  Not ashamed to admit, I am firmly on Team Aiden.  He is willing to do anything to protect her, even ignoring his own feelings.  Plus, he has some serious heart-melting moments with her.

3. I knew that Seth could not be trusted.  There is so much he lies about to Alex.  I do not think that he is a bad person underneath it all,  but he is definitely following the wrong leader, and has a serious power trip going on whenever he and Alex connect.

4.  Alex's Awakening was super intense, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.  What happens between both her and Aiden and her and Seth, and what the gods are going to do about everything?

To Read or Not to Read:
Read