Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title: Blood Magic
Author: Tessa Gratton
Series: Blood Journals #1
Genre: YA
Release Date: July 7, 2011
Publisher: Doubleday Children's
Edition: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

For Nick Pardee and Silla Kennicot, the cemetery is the center of everything.

Nick is a city boy angry at being forced to move back to the nowhere town of Yaleylah, Missouri where he grew up. He can’t help remembering his mom and the blood magic she practiced – memories he’s tried for five years to escape. Silla, though, doesn’t want to forget; her parents’ apparent murder-suicide left her numb and needing answers. When a book of magic spells in her dad’s handwriting appears on her doorstep, she sees her chance to unravel the mystery of their deaths.

Together they plunge into the world of dark magic, but when a hundred-year-old blood witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the spell book, Nick and Silla will have to let go of everything they believe about who they are, the nature of life and death, and the deadly secrets that hide in blood.

One of the things I liked about this book is that it's a stand alone book. Even though there will be a companion novel; the story of Nick and Silla, the protagonists of this book, is finished. I guess there's a chance they appear in The Blood Keeper, the next book, but it probably will be as guest characters.

The story is told from the point of view of both Nick and Silla, who are both discovering their blood magic. I liked both of them and found their pasts very intriguing. The romance that blooms between them is complicated but sweet.
Both Silla and Nick are dealing with things their parents did and it was interesting seeing how it affects them. Reese, Silla's brother, is an important character in the book, but you don't get to know him as well as I would have liked. At the end, he felt like an stranger, even when I was reading from Silla's point of view.

Usually after a chapter in the present, you get to read a journal entry written by a magic user from a hundred years before. Surprisingly, that was one of my favourite parts of the book. The journal entries are exciting and interesting, especially since they tell that person's story through the years and you discover how the blood magic affects in a long term. Also, I found the person who wrote them twisted and amoral. I always like different personalities from the characters in a book.

The novel is fast paced, intriguing, with very interesting and different characters and a little bit scary, especially towards the end. I will definitely read the companion novel.


Next Book:
2. The Blood Keeper (2012)

Rating:

Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Demonglass
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #2
Genre: YA
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Edition: Hardback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

I want to start this review saying that I loved this book. I love this series. BUT there is a HUGE cliffhanger at the end of this book. And I hated it. A lot of trilogies these days have cliffhangers in the second book and to be honest I'm tired of it. I know authors want to keep the suspense but enough is enough.

Anyway, this time around we have Sophie causing trouble in the UK. We finally get to meet her dad and I have to say that he was very interesting. I loved the scenes in which Sophie and her dad are practicing their magic together.

Sophie makes some tough choices in this book but I think at the end she matured because of it.
For those worried that Archer may not be in the book, don't worry about it. We finally get to know Archer's side of the story and frackly there were moments there where I even understood him.

Turns out that at the end this book does have a love triangle (although I'm pretty sure all of us know who she is going to end up with). Cal is a supporting character in this book and I loved getting to know him.

Then there's Jenna. I was very disappointed when I realized where her story was going. At times it felt like she abandoned Sophie, and I didn't like that at all.

I think the scenes that had Cal, Archer or Sophie's dad were the most interesting and important parts of the book.

This book had a lots of intrigue and mystery but I have to admit that I knew who the bad guys where.

Anyway, this was a solid novel with a lot of character development, a forbidden love and a mystery to solve. I can't wait to see how it all ends up, especiall after that ending!


Previous Book:
1. Hex Hall - Review

Next Book:
3. Untitled (March 2012)

Rating:

Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Title: Dragon Bound
Author: Thea Harrison
Series: Elder Races #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

This book was an incredible start to a fantastic new series. You have a smart, sassy heroine that doesn't let herself be controlled by anything or anyone; an arrogant, always in charge hero who unexpectedly starts caring for someone other than himself; an amazing world building full of all kinds of creatures; and an intriguing bad guy who won't stop until he gets what he wants, the hero dead.

I loved the relationship between Pia and Dragos, especially that it wasn't love at first sight (more like lust at first dream), instead their love story developed all through the book. While Dragos is the ultimate alpha male, Pia never let him take charge of her life and stood up for herself at all times.

I also liked the other wyr. They are Dragos' closest friends but they are also part of the guard. They are bodyguards, they deal with the most important parts of Dragos' business, they are powerful and they trust each other. In other words, they are family. They were one of the things I liked the most about the book and I really hope they get their own stories.

The world building was fascinating and while in this novel we only got to discover the wyr race in depth I hope we get more information about the other races, especially the Fae, in future books.

Overall, this was an amazing book with great, interesting characters, a very creative world building, plenty of action, but most importantly, an incredible romance between the main characters.


Memorable Lines:

I'm sorry, the message said.
The theft was a violation of privacy. It was an unbelievable act of impudence and disrespect. Not only that, it was—baffling. He was murderous, incandescent with fury. He was older than sin and could not remember when he had last been in such a rage.
He looked at the paper again.
I'm sorry I had to take your penny. Here's another to replace it.
Yep, that's what it said.
One corner of his mouth twitched. He gave himself a deep shock when he burst into an explosive guffaw.

Next Books:
2. Storm's Heart (August 3, 2011)
3. Serpent's Kiss (October 4, 2011)

Rating:

Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Title: Desires of the Dead
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: The Body Finder #2
Genre: YA
Release Date: March 17, 2011
Publisher: Headline
Edition: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Violet and Jay are finally dating, but adjusting to the new relationship is not as easy as Violet anticipated. Especially when she has to split Jay's time and attention with his new best friend, Mike, and Mike's pesky younger sister - who happens to be obsessed with Jay. Meanwhile, when Violet's special abilities lead her to the body of a young boy, her tip to the police puts her on the radar of the FBI. Violet tries to fend off the FBI's questions while maintaining the semblance of a normal life, but somebody's leaving her threatening notes and an echo around Mike's house reinforces that all is not right. Violet is forced to admit that perhaps the only people who can help her figure it out are the very people she's desperate to avoid - the FBI.

I loved The Body Finder so much that I wasn't sure if Desires of the Dead was going to live up to it. In a sense I was right, but this keeps being a great novel nonetheless.

Violet still is an amazing character and this time she has to worry about people finding out about her ability to sense the echoes of the death. She struggles a lot with it but I liked how at the end she's the one who decides what to do and who to tell, although she does get some help and advice from her parents and Jay.

Jay keeps being as awesome as ever and while his relationship with Violet goes through some bumps, at the end they still make a great couple. As the story evolves you can see how their relationship matures and becomes more serious.

There are some new interesting characters like Rafe. He's a quiet and intriguing character and I really hope the author tells us more about him in the next book.

To me, the reason this book wasn't as good as the previous one is the mystery. In the first book I didn't know who the bad guy was until the end but this time around it's pretty clear who's to blame. Honestly, I don't know how the characters could have missed it.

All in all, this was an amazing read with a great cast of characters and a interesting plot. I can't wait to read the next one!

Memorable Lines:
“Your parents asked me to stop by and check on you on my way home. They won’t be back until late. Can I trust the two of you here . . . alone?”
“Of course you can—” Jay started to say.
“Probably not—” Violet answered at the same time. And then she caught a glimpse of the horror-stricken expression on Jay’s face, and she laughed. “Relax, Uncle Stephen, we’re fine. We were just doing homework.”

Previous Book:
1. The Body Finder - Review

Next Book:
3. Untitled (2012)

Rating:

Review: You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Title: You Against Me
Author: Jenny Downham
Series: -
Genre: YA
Release Date: December 2, 2010
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.

From the moment I heard about this book I knew I wanted to read it. There are two narrators in this story: Ellie, who seems to have a perfect life as a rich, pampered girl who only has to worry about school, and Mikey, a poor boy who had to quit studying to support his two younger sisters and alcoholic mother. Their lifes completely change when Ellie's older brother is accussed of raping Mikey's younger sister.

There is a lot of angst as well as guilt in this book. Both main characters try to do the right thing for their families, but the main problem is when the right thing to do may come in conflict to the loyalty your supposed to have for your family. I love that particular struggle the characters go through and I think that's one of the main reasons why both Ellie and Mikey get together; they understand what each other is going through.

While the romance between Ellie and Mikey is important for the story, there are other things that are as important, like how the accusation Mikey's sister made against Ellie's brother affected their families. One of the things I liked about the book is that usually this type of stories are told from the victim's point of view, but this time what we see is what happens to the families. At times there was hope, hope that what happened can make a family member who was lost or disinterested remember what's important, but mostly there was pain, sorrow and heartbreak.

This was a very emotional read with amazingly written and realistic characters. The only problem I had was that the ending was quite abrupt and I was expecting more. Other that that, this was a fantastic read.

Memorable Lines:
"We could hide out at your grandparents' place."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I've got money. We can buy food, loads of it, and go and live there for a while."
"No."
"Think about it, Ellie - just until the worst is over."
"Are you insane?" She took her hands away from her face. "It isn't going to be over, don't you get it? Someone's family is going to be ruined - yours or mine, that's the choice. We can't run away. This is real life Mikey!"

Rating:

Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Title: Shadow Hills
Author: Anastasia Hopcus
Series: -
Genre: YA
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Publisher: Egmont
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Bought
Blurb:

After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA — a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach — the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after — seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.

I read this novel in one sitting, once I started I just couldn't stop. Phe, the main character, decides to go to the Shadow Hills boarding school to discover it's connection to her sister's death. Phe is a very tough girl; she's been through a lot and is trying to figure out who she is while discovering Shadow Hills' secrets. She's a very likeable character and I loved seeing her relationship with Zach evolve. Zach is a mysterious but sweet character, he has a connection with Phe and tries to help her the best he can, even though most of the time it means breaking the rules. I loved how they trusted each other no matter what.

Shadow Hills is a strange but very interesting little town, I liked how the author introduced us little by little to most people, although I would have liked to know more about the town's past and what kind of changes the inhabitans of the town suffered.
Dreams are very important in this book, Phe's dreams in especific. Most of the time I hate reading dreams, but the author made those scenes very interesting and cryptic, they worked really well in this book.

This was a very intriguing and suspesful debut book, with a heavy touch of romance and supernatural events. While this is a stand alone novel, I really hope the author is working on a second book. This was definitely one of my favourite 2010 YA books.


Memorable Lines:
The real reason I couldn’t tear my gaze away, the thing that turned my muscles to ice even as my skin burned, was the one and only thought running through my mind: That’s him. That is the guy from my dream.

Rating:

Review: Black Wings by Christina Henry

Title: Black Wings
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Madeline Black #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: November 30, 2010
Publisher: Ace
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical abilities and an impressive windspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in, demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her dicectly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

Maddy is the lead character of the book. She's strong and brave but has some issues with being trapped doing the same job for the rest of her life: the job of guiding souls to the afterlife. But one day things get worse, something attacks her and her friend and suddenly her life is in chaos. It turns out that someone has been keeping secrets from her about her past, and she's not too happy about it.

It was refreshing having an agent of death as a main character. It was very interesting seeing the duties she has, but I wish more could have been shown about her job and how it works. The new powers that she develops give her a touch of vulnerability, that's added to the one she feels everytime she's near Gabriel, her tenant. He is mysterious at first but when everything is revealed he becomes a little too complacent and obedient, and even though it's explained why, I wish he could have had more of a mind of his own.

Personally, I think the best two characters of the book were Beezle, Maddy's best friend gargoyle who is funny, sweet and cares a great deal about her, and then there's J.B., Maddy's boss, very handsome but an enormous jerk. I'm sure he has hidden depths and I really want to know what they are.

The worldbuilding was very interesting. I guess it's because I love reading about that type of creature (I would be more precise, but then I would be spoiling you). The bad guys were really kick-ass and I liked that Maddy wasn't the most powerful person and that most of the time she was walking on eggshells.

This was one of my favourite urban fantasies of the year. It was dark and intense but it also had some touches of humour. The book was very addicting and the plot was fast paced. I guess the worst thing is that I have to wait a whole year until the next one!


Memorable Lines:

J.B. & Maddy
He looked up at me, sparks in his eyes. "I think we're finished here."
"Not by a long shot," I said, and turned to leave.
"And next time you come in to work, be sure to dress a little more professionally," he added as I slammed the door shut.
"You're lucky I remembered to take my apron off," I muttered, and headed back to my desk to finish filling out the forms.

Next Book:
2. Black Night (Autumm 2011)

Rating:

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Review: No Place To Run by Maya Banks

Title: No Place To Run
Author: Maya Banks
Series: KGI #2
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

The last person Sam Kelly expected to save was Sophie Lundgren. Once they shared a brief, intense affair while Sam was undercover and then she vanished. She's spent the last few months on the run, knowing that any mistake would cost her both her life and that of their unborn child. Now she's resurfaced with a warning for Sam: this time, he's the one in danger.

The first thing I want to say is that the title fits the story perfectly. Sophie is a scared woman running for her life and she knows that the only person that can help her is Sam, the father of her baby. Sophie has kept a lot of secrets and most of them are dangerous ones, but the thing is, so has Sam. These two have some serious trust issues, especially on Sam's part. There's always something happening in this book, and while I loved the action and suspense I also wish Sam & Sophie could have had some down time so they could at least clear up the air.

For most of the book Sophie doesn't think she belongs there, with Sam and all his family. All she has ever wanted is a family, but she believes that Sam will never completely trust her. Sam messes up real bad in that aspect, so bad that I wanted to hit him upside the head. He's suspicious for most of the book and while he has good reasons I wanted him to trust her a little more, especially at the end.

The character that surprised me the most was Garrett. In The Darkest Hour we saw him as the sweet, protective brother who was always trying to take care of Rachel, the heroine in that book. Well, in this novel he's completely different. He doesn't really like Sophie and doesn't try to hide it. He is disrespectful towards her, mostly at the beginning and he's also constantly suspicious, always thinking the worst. That surprised me but it also was an interesting change. It made him feel more real, a man with different dephs. I really can't wait to read his book.

There was a lot of action and suspense and that's one of the things I loved the most about the book. Apart from that, the author made me care for her characters, especially for Sophie and her struggles, which made me enjoy the book so much more. This series just keeps getting better and now I can't wait to read Garrett's book!


Memorable Lines:

"Sam?"
His name came out breathless. A little hesitant. A little nervous. But there was no fear in her voice.
"Let me see her, Soph. I want to see my daughter. One moment where it's just us. No distractions. No danger. Just you and me and our child."

Previous Book:
1. The Darkest Hour - Review

Next Book:
3. Hidden Away (March 1, 2011)

Rating:

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Review: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Title: The Iron Duke
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Iron Seas #1
Genre: Steampunk
Release Date: October 5, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Edition: Trade Paperback
Blurb:

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

I have never read an Steampunk book and truth be told, I didn't have any plans to start, but then I read the prequel novella of this book, Here There Be Monsters. I inmediatly fell in love with the world, so The Iron Duke became one of my most wanted books.

The most impresive thing for me about The Iron Duke is the worldbuilding. We have nanoagents that now are injected into a body for healing purposes but before were used to control and suppress the emotions of the british citizens by the Horde, the Horde who used to control England, the Frenzy that makes people procreate withour their knowledge or consent, krakens that are a kind of weapon created by the Horde, zombies and more. As a result of that control, people became slaves and when they were freed by the Iron Duke much of their society changed, like not wanting to get married.
This is not an easy and quick read, but the worldbuilding doesn't overwhelm you, it just makes you love the book so much more.

Mira is a very strong and complicated character. She has been dealing with insults and assaults all her life for the way she looks. She's close to her family and values a lot her job as an Inspector. After all the things she has seen she still has compassion and cares about what happens to people.
Then we have Rhys, the Iron Duke, the one who saved them all. He's arrogant and cold. Thinks he can get whatever he wants. Doesn't much care about the rules and has an incredible amount of power. He is also the reason I didn't give this book a perfect rating. While I like an alpha hero, there were times where he went too far. Also, I wish the relationship between both of them had had a little more romance and that they had at least learn how to communicate with each other, which they didn't.

All in all, this book has the perfect blend between adventure, worlbuilding. action and romance. Even if you've never read any Steampunk, you should give this one a try. It's definitely worth it.

Memorable Lines:

“Have you received any threats?” That question would be of the utmost importance to Superintendent Hale, and everyone else Mina answered to. The Iron Duke must be kept safe.
“Yes.” A brief smile accompanied his answer.
Of course he had. “Threats from anyone who would dare act on them?”
“No.”
And if someone had, Mina suspected that she’d never have been called. A law unto himself, he’d have concealed the evidence.

Previous Book:
0.5. Here There be Monsters - Review

Next Book:
2. Heart of Steel (Nov, 2011)

Rating:

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Review: Firewalker by Allyson James

Title: Firewalker
Author: Allyson James
Series: Stormwalker #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Janet Begay's Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural ever since it opened. But a new, dark power is rising, this time inside Janet herself. Her boyfriend Mick, a sexy dragon shapeshifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, know what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.

But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel-and Janet becomes the main suspect. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives...

This book mainly deals with the consequences of what happened in Stormwalker. The dragons are not happy with Mick and when he disappears Janet will do everything she can to get him back. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I love dragons. Dragons are my favourite creatures/shapeshifters, which makes me love this series even more.

Janet has to deal with the new magic that awakened in her, especially since it wants her to do evil things. Mick watches over her and some of the issues this entails are solved in this book (like if Janet makes a wrong move Mick will kill her). In that sense, their relationship has evolved and we mostly discover the depth of Mick's feelings for Janet.

Somehow the character I loved the most in this book was Nash Jones, the sheriff. It was funny reading the interactions between him and Janet plus a new side of him is revealed. At the end of things he is Janet's friend and we discover how far he will go to help her. As for Coyote, he keeps being as mysterious and unhelpful as the last book.

I loved that we get to find out more about the dragon society and how it works. It was very interesting seeing a dragon trial. We also get to meet some new creatures/beings that I hope we get more info about in the next book.

This was a great follow up book in which you get more in depth information about the main characters, the worldbuilding is expanded and a new plot thread is opened.
After an incredible and surprising discovery at the end, now I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.


Memorable Lines:

“Jones,” he said. Dark, biting, laconic.
“Hey, Nash. It’s Janet.”
There was a long silence.
“Fu*k,” Nash Jones said, and he hung up on me.

Previous Books:
1. Stormwalker - Review

Next Book:
3. Shadow Walker (June 2011)

Rating:

Review + Giveaway: Play of Passion by Nalini Singh

Title: Play of Passion
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changeling #9
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

In his position as tracker for the SnowDancer pack, it’s up to Drew Kincaid to rein in rogue changelings who have lost control of their animal halves—even if it means killing those who have gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite…and who threatens to enslave his wolf.

Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn’t easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind—and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash…but she hasn’t counted on Drew’s will.

Now, two of SnowDancer’s most stubborn wolves find themselves playing a hot, sexy game even as lethal danger stalks the very place they call home…

In the latest installment of the Psy/Changeling series we have the story of two members of the Snowdancer pack: Indigo and Andrew. Most of the book happens in the wolf pack territory and we finally get to meet most of the lieutenants and see how their hierarchy works.

As for the main couple, the thing I liked the most was how none of them were perfect, they both made mistakes. It was interesting seeing the dynamics between the two of them, especially since Indigo is a very strong dominant female and Andrew works outside the pack hierarchy plus almost nobody takes him seriously. These two make a very entertaining pair, and even though they go through some rough patches, at the end all of it was worth it.

We get some updates on other characters like Judd and Brenna (whose book is still my favourite of the whole series) and more importantly Sienna and Hawke. It was great reading the interactions between Sienna and Andrew, you can really see a new side of both characters and Andrew was really sweet. As for Hawke, I don't even know where to start with him but I think everyone who reads this book will see that his patience is at an end.

This is definitely a lighter book than the previous ones where we also find out some great new information like what happens when you finally find your mate but then you realize she/he already has a significant other.

This was a great addition to the series that gets you hooked from page one. Now I can't wait to read Hawke's book, I think almost everyone who has read this series is waiting for his book!


Memorable Lines:

"Is that leopard boy ... what's his name" - Andrew pretended to think - "that's right, Kit. Is Kit treating you right?" He murmured the question at a volume Hawke was certain to overhear, knowing full well he was throwing the cat among the pigeons.
"Drew," Sienna pulled back, fisting a hand on his chest. Her eyes sparked fire at him, and for an instant he could almost see through the dark brown of her contact lenses and to the night-sky eyes beyond. White stars on a spread of black velvet, it was said that the eyes of a cardinal Psy reflected the stark, sprawling beauty of the PsyNet.
Leaning down, he kissed her other cheek and - dropping his voice low enough that it would skate under even his alpha's acute hearing - said, "Give him hell, sweetheart. Then come tell me about it."

Previous Books:
1. Slave to Sensation
2. Visions of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice
4. Mine to Possess
5. Hostage to Pleasure
6. Branded by Fire
7. Blaze of Memory
8. Bonds of Justice - Review

Next Book:
10. Kiss of Snow (June 2011)

Rating:

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.


Giveaway:

To win a copy of Play of Passion all you have to do is fill out the form.
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Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author: Jenny Han
Series: Summer #
Genre: YA
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Some summers are just destined to be pretty
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

There were some things about this book that made me put it in my shelf and not start to read it until I decided it had been sitting there long enough. One of them is that the name of the main character is Belly. I know that the book explains why they call her that, but some times I couldn't take someone who everyone calls Belly seriously. I think it would have been fine if only her family and close friends did, but that wasn't the case.

The story is very simple: summer, a love triangle and some life changings events and choices the main character and people around her had made. What makes this book so good are the characters. Even though I've probably read a lot of books with the same story elements, the author makes you care for every single character in the book. When someone made a mistake I was thinking "why would you do that? Fix it!", when Belly was trying to sort out her feelings for the boys I could actually see why she couldn't choose and when something bad happened, even though I knew that it wasn't going to turn out well, I was still hoping for a miracle, just like Belly.

Some parts of the story were told in flashbacks, and while most of the time I hate that, the author makes it work perfectly. They gave me a depth of understanding that I wouldn't have had without it. While I'm happy that this is just the first book of a trilogy, I still wish there could have been a more solid ending. I especially wanted to know what happened to the rest of the characters after summer.

This was a great YA book with an incredible different and three dimensional cast of characters that make you care for them since page one.


Memorable Lines:

Conrad hugged me first, but a faraway kind of hug, careful not to get to close. He'd just gotten a haircut, and the skin around the nape of his neck looked pink and new, like a baby's. He smelled like the ocean. He smelled like Conrad. "I liked you better with glasses," he said, his lips close to my ear.
That stung. I shoved him away and said, "Well, too bad. My contacts are here to stay."


Next Books:
2. It's Not Summer Without You
3. We'll Always Have Summer (May 3, 2011)

Rating:

Review: The Heir of Night by Helen Lowe

Title: The Heir of Night
Author: Helen Lowe
Series: The Wall of Night #1
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: Eos
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

If Night falls, all fall . . .

In the far north of the world of Haarth lies the bitter mountain range known as the Wall of Night. Garrisoned by the Nine Houses of the Derai, the Wall is the final bastion between the peoples of Haarth and the Swarm of Dark—which the Derai have been fighting across worlds and time.

Malian, Heir to the House of Night, knows the history of her people: the unending war with the Darkswarm; the legendary heroes, blazing with long-lost power; the internal strife that has fractured the Derai's former strength. But now the Darkswarm is rising again, and Malian's destiny as Heir of Night is bound inextricably to both ancient legend and any future the Derai—or Haarth—may have.

At the beginning of the book we get to meet Malian, the Heir of Night and Kalan, a novice priest who ends up becoming Malian's friend and at times the only person she trusts. Together they start the journey that begins with the attack and battle at the House of Night castle and that then takes them to discover their destiny and how to fulfill it.

Along the way we meet other important characters to the story like Tasarion, the Earl of Night and Malian's father, Rowan Birchmoon, Lady of Winter and also consort of the Earl of Night and Jehane Mor & Tarathan, heralds from the Guild that have perfect control of their abilities and are not afraid to use them. They are perhaps the other 2 most interesting characters of the whole book (the other two being Malian and Kalan).

One of the most curious things of the book is that it's a mix between fantasy and sci-fi. The Derai and their enemies are all from another world, in other words, aliens.
While there are plenty of new names and terms along the book, the things that are explained are not very complicated and easily understood.

The worldbuilding is great, and I especially liked the descriptions and special abilities of the land. A lot of the book happens in the territory of the Earl of Night, his fortress in particular, and now I'm really looking forward to exploring the world of Haarth outside the Wall.

All in all, the author has created a very rich and complex story with a perfect balance between action and character development that got me hooked from the first page.

Memorable Lines:

"Awake!" Malian cried at the top of her voice. "'Ware foes! 'Ware blood! 'Ware ruin in the night! Awake, Earl of Night! To arms, Keep of Winds!"

Next Book:
2. The Gathering of the Lost (TBD)

Rating:

Review: Venom by Jennifer Estep

Title: Venom
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: Pocket
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

It’s hard to be a badass assas­sin when a giant is beat­ing the crap out of you. Luck­ily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My cur­rent mis­sion is per­sonal: anni­hi­late Mab Mon­roe, the Fire ele­men­tal who mur­dered my fam­ily. Which means pro­tect­ing my iden­tity, even if I have to con­ceal my pow­er­ful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the pub­lic, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best bar­be­cue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spi­der, retired assas­sin. I still do favors on the side. Like rid­ding a vam­pire friend of her over­sized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his mas­sive fists. At least irre­sistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detec­tive Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sis­ter was dead. She prob­a­bly thinks the same about me. Lit­tle does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer … who is about to save her life.

This book is about consequences. After the events of the last book, Mab and her goons are looking for the assassin that killed her lawyer's son and an associate. Because of that Roslyn, the vampire that helped Gin, now is in trouble and needs Gin's skills to get rid of him. But it's easier said than done because this guy is powerful, resourceful and really hard to kill.

I loved seeing Gin evolve from the simple assassin she was in the first book to the complicated revenge driven retired assassin she was in this book. She has to deal with the aftermath of the events from the previous book and that includes the effect it had on her the departure of the Detective Donovan Caine. I never liked the guy and I was glad he was gone, especially since now Owen Grayson is in the picture. Gin has some doubts concerning him and it was interesting seeing her deal with her insecurities and how much Owen really understands her. We get to know the connection between these two and I think that deep down they just match. We also see Gin use her elemental powers more easily, although she keeps being stubborn about trying to develop them.

Another point that was raised in the previous book was Detective Bria Coolidge, also known as Gin's thought dead little sister. We start to get to know her and we can see the similarities between the two sisters, especially concerning the investigation into their family's death. They're both looking for justice, only they use different methods. I liked how she tried to help people even though realistically she can't and how because of that she has become Mab's target. It was also interesting seeing her interact with Finn and I think there's a possible romance in the air.

As for the other characters, Finn keeps being Finn and the sisters are the same, although we do get some new information into their pasts. I really wanted more interaction between Gin and Mab, but unfortunately there isn't much of it, and I really hope we see some sort of fight between thse two in the future, especially after how Venom ended.

This book had non-stop action, plenty of character development and answered a few questions that were raised in the previous 2 novels. I read it in one sitting and now I can't wait to read Tangled Threads. This series just keeps getting better and better!


Memorable Lines:

“I do hope you’ve learned your les­son this time, Ms. Blanco,” Mab said in a pleas­ant voice. “Because Jonah’s right. Next time you cross one of us—any of us—you will die. And I promise you that it will be far more excru­ci­at­ing than what you’ve expe­ri­enced here tonight.”

A bit of black fire flashed in her eyes, back­ing up her deadly promise. Mab Mon­roe smiled at me a moment longer, then turned on her boot heel and van­ished into the cold night.

Previous Books:
1. Spider's Bite - Review
2. Web of Lies - Review

Next Book:
4. Tangled Threads (April 26th 2011)

Rating: 1/2

* I received an eArc of this book from the author for review.

Review: The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay

Title: The Darkest Edge of Dawn
Author: Kelly Gay
Series: Charlie Madigan #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Pocket Books
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:
It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night. . . .

Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun—one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai. For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work . . . but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.

I had really high expectations after reading the amazing previous book of this series, The Better Part of Darkness, and in some ways The Darkest Edge of Dawn didn't disappoint.
If there's something this book is not lacking is action. We are thrust from the first page into a full-blown investigation regarding a serial killer and how it may or may not connect with previous events that happened in the last book.Sometimes I felt like there was too much action. I wished Charlie could have had more down time (she couldn’t even take a shower without something happening around her) and that we could have seen more interaction with the rest of her family.

That’s not to say that we didn’t see them at all. We did get some amazing scenes with Emma, Charlie’s daughter, and it was really interesting seeing how the relationship between mother and daughter developed, especially when we find out some things about her.

As for Rex, the Revenant that’s possessing Charlie’s ex-husband, we do get some intense scenes with him and it was really funny seeing Charlie figuring out that she cares about Rex, at the same time that she’s trying to find a way to get her ex back, and then also some way for Rex to get a new body. Most of the time I felt sorry for him, and I really wish that the author finds some way to make him stay (at this point I like him better than Charlie’s ex).

There also is Bryn, Charlie’s sister, and while she does become an important character in this story, I wished we could have seen more of her, especially the parts that deal with her being addicted to ash.
Then there’s Hank. Since I finished reading the last book I was rooting for both of them to get together, and while we don’t get any resolution in this one, there are some very interesting developments in their relationship. Apart from that, he keeps being my favourite character and it was very interesting learning a little about his past.

The best parts of this book? Brim, the hellhound; Pendaran, the Druid King, the development of Charlie’s powers & the relationship dynamics between Hank and Charlie.

All in all, this was a great novel, with non-stop action, incredible character development and at the end it only makes you wish for the next one.


Memorable Lines:
"You have one week," Pendaran announced. "One week to find Daya's killer."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Seven days or we seek retribution from the jinn."
A disbelieving half snort, half laugh sprang from my mouth.. "Seriously? Because I didn't peg you for an idiot."
The nymphs fled the courtyard in a blur of gossamer and bare feet, disappearing into the darkness and mist, and leaving me with the sudden realization I'd said that though out loud.
Shit.

Previous Book:
1. The Better Part of Darkness - Review

Next Book:
3. Untitled (Summer 2011)

Rating:

1/2


* I received this book from the publisher for review.

Advance Review: Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands

Title: Born to Bite
Author: Lynsay Sands
Series: Argeneau Family #13
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Avon
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Legend has it that Armand Argeneau is a killer in the bedroom . . .

But with all three of his late wives meeting unfortunate and untimely ends, is this sexy immortal a lover or a murderer? That's what Eshe d'Aureus intends to find out. As an enforcer, it's her job to bring rogue vampires to justice, even if the rogue in question makes her blood race red hot.

Armand knew she was trouble the moment Eshe roared into town on her motorcycle, clad in tight black leather. She claims she's hiding from dangerous fiends, though he suspects something more. But after three wives who've all had trouble remaining, well, undead, Armand is reluctant to open his heart again. Then strange accidents start to happen, each deadlier than the last, and Armand realizes he may not have much time to prove he's a lover, not a slayer.

I've always loved the Argeneau series and after 13 books I'm still not tired of this crazy big family. The previous book, The Renegade Hunter, that had Armand's son Nicolas Argeneau as the protagonist, left a lot of questions unanswered, which annoyed me a lot because I had to wait almost a year to find out why all those things happened to him and who was the guilty party. I'm happy to say that Born to Bite answers all of those questions and gives us a glimpse of what's been happening with the rest of the family.

This book had a lot more mystery than others and the romance that blooms between Armand and Eshe is sweet and unhurried. Both of them lost their lifemates and all through the book you see how they risk themselves again for a chance at happiness.

After all the mystery surrounding Armand and his life, it was fun seeing how he lived this past years and at the same time heartbreaking because he had to stay away from his loved ones in case someone might hurt them.

In this book we also get some new insights into Lucian and how he doesn't seem to trust his judgement so much anymore after what happened with Jean-Claude. Bricker also appears as a side character. He gave a touch of humour to the story and I loved his interactions with Eshe. I can't wait to read his story (fingers crossed).
We finally also get to meet Jeanne Louise and I'm hoping that she'll get her book eventually.

The story moved at a nice pace and even though it was a bit predictable (I knew who the killer was since almost the beginning), it was really interesting hearing the reason behind the murders.
All in all, this was a great entry to this series, that answered a lot of questions that were raised in previous books, with a steady romance and a really strong mystery plot.


Previous Books:
1. A Quick Bite
2. Love Bites
3. Single White Vampire
4. Tall Dark and Hungry
5. A Bite to Remember
6. Bite Me If You Can
7. The Accidental Vampire
8. Vampires Are Forever
9. Vampire, Interrupted
10. The Rogue Hunter
11. The Immortal Hunter
12. The Renegade Hunter


Next Book:
14. Hungry for You (Dec 1, 2010)


Rating: 1/2


* I received this book from the publisher for review.