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Please Note: New Holiday Review Policy! (extended indefinitely)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Review: Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway

Title: Almost to Die For
Author: Tate Hallaway
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 08/03/10
Summary:
On her sixteenth birthday, Anastasija Parker learns that her so-called deadbeat dad is actually a vampire king. And he wants Ana to assume her rightful position at his side, in spite of the fact that she has witch's blood running through her veins-from her mother's side.

Too bad witches and vampires are mortal enemies. And now Ana's parents are at each other's throats over her future. It's up to Ana to make a choice, but deciding your eternal destiny is a pretty big deal for a girl who just wants to get through high school.


Plot: 3 Stars
More often than not, if two paranormal creatures are going to be enemies, it tends to be vampires vs. werewolves. So I was really excited for a novel in which the rivalry was between vampires and witches. I just wish we could've gotten a little more information and history into the rivalry. I feel like some of the information was glossed over, and I hope it's covered in more detail in future books.

Pace: 4 Stars
I zoomed through this book in a little over a day, which is a record for me as of late. The novel was short and sweet, but definitely not in a bad way. There was no downtime for the reader to become restless or bored. The scenes blended together seamlessly and time passed in a logical and realistic manner. The events within the book took place over the course of a week or so, which felt natural, as compared to many books that fit way too many events into only a day or two.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
I really anjoyed the main character, Ana. I really related to how she was experiencing high school, from the loneliness of having only a few friends to the bullying by the popular kids. She was also very interesting and multi-dimensional, and I liked how her inner voice worked through the conflicts throughout the novel. That being said, I didn't feel like I learned enough about any other character to connect to them.

Cover: 3 Stars
The cover model's eyes, one being blue and one being brown, is both very striking and an accurate portrayal of the main character. The cover model in general was a great choice from the description we receive while reading. The blues used for the text and accent at the bottom is a very rich and eye-catching color. I just wish the background color wasn't so close to the cover model's skin tone. Her arm disappears into the background, and the white leaves a bit of dead space.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

In My Mailbox (48)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Bought:

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Mob Rules by Cameron Haley
The Candidates by Inara Scott



A Taint in the Blood by S.M. Stirling (hardcover bargain!)
Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan
Except the Queen by Jane Yolen & Midori Snyder (hardcover bargain!)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Review: Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook

Title: Here There Be Monsters (Burning Up anthology)
Author: Meljean Brook
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 08/03/10
Summary:
Bring these four authors together and it's sure to ignite a spark...

Angela Knight pairs a vampire warrior and his seductive captor in a battle against demonic predators.

Nalini Singh returns to the world of her Psy-Changeling series as a woman in lethal danger finds an unlikely protector -- and lover.

Virginia Kantra continues the haunting tales of the Children of the Sea in her story of a wounded soldier rescued by an enigmatic young woman.

Meljean Brook launches a bold new steampunk series about a woman who strikes a provocative -- and terrifying -- bargain for freedom.


Plot: 4.5 Stars
I haven't read too much steampunk and am fairly new, so I was pleasantly surprised by this novella. I didn't really think steampunk and romance would mix together all that well, but I was so wrong. I also didn't think such a small amount of words could describe such a fantastic and intricate world. There were some details about the steampunk world that the author developed that could've been explained a bit better, but I'm sure the upcoming novel, The Iron Duke, will go further into detail about these things and be even better.

Pace: 4 Stars
Normally, I don't really enjoy the short stories and novellas in these anthologies because they often feel rushed or lack a lot of detail. But this story had everything. It sucked me in within only a few pages and didn't let go. The author has an attention to detail that really adds to the richness of the story and made this a truly enjoyable read.

Characters: 4 Stars
Ivy was a very strong female lead in this novella. I really enjoyed that not only did she have a very masculine occupation as a blacksmith, but that she excelled in her profession. Her inner conflict throughout the story was very genuine, and she came across as a very likeable character. Mad Machen was a very intimidating pirate captain, with an even more intimidating reputation. But what I liked about him the most was how patient he was with Ivy. Although they are very different, the two make a very interesting pair.

Cover: 3 Stars
While there's nothing wrong with this cover, it seemed a little generic: a shirtless male cover model with tribal tattoos. I only read one of the four stories within this anthology, so I can only speak for this story, but the cover didn't fit. There was no sort of steampunk element at all. Even the font choices were generic. But the reddish color of the background fit the feel of this story, so it wasn't a complete loss.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Death Most Definite by Trent Jamieson

Title: Death Most Definite
Author: Trent Jamieson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/27/10
Summary:
Steven de Selby has a hangover. Bright lights, loud noise, and lots of exercise are the last thing he wants. But that's exactly what he gets when someone starts shooting at him.

Steven is no stranger to death -- Mr. D's his boss after all -- but when a dead girl saves him from sharing her fate, he finds himself on the wrong end of the barrel. His job is to guide the restless dead to the underworld but now his clients are his own colleagues, friends, and family.

Mr. D's gone missing and with no one in charge, the dead start to rise, the living are hunted, and the whole city teeters on the brink of a regional apocalypse -- unless Steven can shake his hangover, not fall for the dead girl, and find out what happened to his boss -- that is, Death himself.


Plot: 4.5 Stars
The structure of the pyschopomps (or reapers) and the way they conducted business was very efficient, unique, and amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed the little details in regards to the psychopomping, and how the souls of the dead moved on. There was also a lot of detail involved in the underworld and the One Tree, without it feeling overwhelming to the reader. This was probably my favorite book containing zombies ever, because zombies tend to be hit or miss for me. And I'll admit, it probably took me a bit longer than it should've to realize that what Steven and his family/co-workers called "stirrers" were indeed zombies. All in all, this was a very unique urban fantasy tale, and I'm glad the main character was male.

Pace: 4 Stars
This novel was split up into two parts. Part one, which took up about two thirds of the book, really set the novel up in terms of worldbuilding and introducing characters. Although it was a bit slow at times, it was definitely needed to fully grasp the rest of the book. It was a roller coaster ride, setting up for the second part of the book which was non-stop action. There were plenty of twists and turns, and quite a few near-death moments. At least twice, I asked myself how Steven was going to make it. There was a point near the end of the book that got a bit philosophical, but the author handled it really well. What could've possibly been a very confusing scene, instead turned into Steven growing up and taking responsibility.

Characters: 5 Stars
Steven is my favorite male urban fantasy main character ever. I related to him so well, between his sarcasm, his laziness, and his lack of enthusiasm for the family business. When everything started going downhill, he really had to buckle down and grow up. I also enjoyed Lisa, the ghost of a fellow psychopomp that helps Steven on his adventure. Although she helps him out throughout the novel, that doesn't stop her from giving him hell along the way. The dynamic between the two was great, the two sharing both highs and lows. I wished we could've seen more of his cousin (and drinking buddy) but I'm hoping that will happen in the next book. And I loved that they referred to Mr. D as such.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this cover. I love that the cover model is in a suit, because it really gives off a business feel, and since the novel is about the business side of death it fits. Plus, Steven runs around in a suit for a while, a detail that stayed with me because I would hate to be stuck in a suit while running for my life in the summer. I also really liked the orange and yellow hues chosen for the cover. It's an under-used color choice in the genre and gives the cover a serious feel without being depressing as well. The last detail, the tree in the background, is actually there for a reason. All in all, this cover is very striking, but also very accurate.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Review: Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 08/01/09
Summary:
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents’ deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don’t know whom they can trust.

They just know they can’t trust each other.


Plot: 3.5 Stars
The idea behind this novel is very interesting and unique within the genre. I've always enjoyed stories with twins (ever since Fred and George), and I was excited to find a story in which the twins were on opposite sides. At times, this novel felt like a set-up for the rest of the series. The Otherworlds, the prophecy, Lia and Alice's powers... They were mentioned and glimpsed, but not much was divulged. I hope that these things are explained and explored more in depth in the next novel because I want to know more.

Pace: 3 Stars
There were many moments within this novel where it felt like nothing was progressing. The novel started off strong and reeled me in quickly, but lost steam in the middle. There was a lack of action or investigation for much of the novel. I though Lia could've been a bit more proactive in figuring things out (like Alice), instead of just waiting for the information needed to be brought to her. I did enjoy the ending though. The author did a great job in wrapping the story up and leading into the next part of the series, without leaving us with a cliffhanger.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
As a main character, I found Lia to be very realistic. She wasn't necessarily weak, but she also wasn't very tough. She was a nice balance between the two that I could relate to. Sometimes I felt as though she could've been more proactive, but overall I enjoyed her character. Sonia and Luisa were my favorite characters. I really enjoyed how they played off of Lia and each other. Although I wish Alice and Henry could've played a larger part in this novel. Alice was supposed to be in opposition to Lia, but she was often absent. Henry played such a small part throughout much of the novel, I actually forgot Lia and Alice had a younger brother at one point.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
I liked the original cover, but I think the new paperback cover is more eye catching. But both have their pros and cons. While the original cover give a more historical feel that is reminiscent of the setting of the novel, the cover models on the new cover could be from any time period. On the other hand, the new cover gives a good feel for the sisters, while the original doesn't actually portray anything from the novel. While the statues are interesting, they are not actually from the novel.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

In My Mailbox (47)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Review:

The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay (Thanks to Kelly and Pocket!)
Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens (Thanks to Jennifer!)



Bought:

Legacies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill



Won:

Demon Blood by Meljean Brook (Thanks to Meljean!)
Red Fire by Diedre Knight (Thanks to Aria @ Aria's Dark Musings)
Dark and Stormy Knights anthology (Thanks to St. Martin's Press!)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Update Time

I just wanted to address my lack of reviews lately, for anyone who has noticed. Not only is today my first day off in like a week (I hate working retail...), but my mom also passed a nice little cold on to me. I was hoping to post a review or two today, since I've had all day to just lounge around, but of course, I have some pretty bad luck. Finally a day off, and I spend it not being able to breath out of my nose and with a splitting migraine. Hopefully, once the excedrin kicks in, I'll be able to get some reading done (I'm currently reading J.K. Beck's When Blood Calls and so far, I'm really enjoying it. But there probably won't be any reviews today. If I'm feeling better tomorrow, I'll post at least one, but I can't promise anything.

But I'll give you a little teaser (aka the list of reviews I need to post):

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Death Most Definite by Trent Jamieson
Here There be Monsters by Meljean Brook (Burning Up anthology)
Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway

And I'll give you another teaser... I enjoyed all four! :) So hopefully you guys can look forward to four 3+ Star reviews in the near future.

Plus, I'm really close to 200 followers (199 last time I checked, which was yesterday), and I'm thinking I might have to celebrate when I reach 200.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (42)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: When Blood Calls
Author: J.K. Beck
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 08/31/10

The hematite bracelets, Doyle knew, prevented Dragos from shifting into animal form or sentient mist. He still had strength and speed, albeit lessened, but wherever he was going, he was getting there on two humanoid feet. -- pg. 137

Sunday, August 15, 2010

In My Mailbox (46)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Review:

When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck (ARC)
The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith (ARC)
Twelve by Jasper Kent (ARC)



Bought:

Manifest by Artist Arthur
Demons Not Included by Cheyenne McCray
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller



Used:

Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Double Cross
Author: Carolyn Crane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 09/28/10
Summary:
SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL.

Justine Jones lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she was lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard, who gifts her with extraordinary mental powers—dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity’s new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will.

As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men—one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (41)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Death Most Definite
Author: Trent Jamieson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/27/10

Lissa stomps up and down the aisle. People shudder with her passage, burying themselves in their reading matter or turning up their mp3s. She's oblivious to it, or maybe she is taking a deep pleasure in the other passengers' discomfort, the dreadful chill of death sliding past life. -- pg. 62

Monday, August 9, 2010

Review: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/27/10
Summary:
The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She’s run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn’t her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she’s ever had to learn.


Plot: 4 Stars
Having only read Bitten, the first novel in this series, I was a bit hesitant that I would be completely lost when reading book eleven. But Kelley's website FAQs assured me that minus a few details here and there, this novel could be read as a stand alone. And I have to say, she did a great job. Having never met Savannah before, I really got a good glimpse into her character and the world she lives in. For her first investigation, Savannah does a pretty good job digging for clues and staying alive. The culprit of the crimes definitely took me by surprise, which I love. All in all, this was a great blend of urban fantasy and mystery.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
Savannah follows several leads throughout this novel, leading to many twists and turns of the plot. Every time it seemed like she was taking a step forward in the case, something threw her two steps back. There was a brief moment in which I wondered if she'd ever figured it out, but my doubt was quickly squashed. The ending isn't a clifferhanger exactly, but on the very last page you find out something major possibly happened and you're left with months to wait before finding out if its true.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Although I would never ride one myself, I love a girl who's not afraid to ride a motorcycle. Savannah makes a very kick-ass, no-nonsense private investigator. I wish we could've seen a bit more of Paige and Lucas, but that's probably moslty because I haven't read any of Paige's books in the series. Jaime was very interesting for the short span she showed up, which makes me want to go back and read her books. Although he wasn't there for a lot of the investigation, I really enjoyed Adam and his half-demon idiosycracies.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
This was a great cover. I loved the motorcycle in the background, since it's such a huge part of Savannah's personality. And the cover model chosen to portray Savannah was a great choice. She really embodied the character. The color choices of greans and blues really fit the tone of the novel and brought out many of the cover's details. When I saw the first cover, I was disappointed at how generic it looked, so I'm glad they redesigned the cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

In My Mailbox (45)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Bought:

Death Most Definite by Trent Jamieson
Siren's Call by Devyn Quinn
Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver
Burning Up anthology



Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll
Ice Land by Betsy Tobin (Only $1! I couldn't resist)

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Dianne Sylvan
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 08/31/10
Summary:
Meet Miranda Grey -- music and magic are in her blood.

Overwhelmed by her uncanny ability to manipulate people's emotions through her music, Miranda Grey comes to the attention of vampire lord David Solomon. Believing he can help bring her magic under control, David discovers that Miranda's powers may affect the vampire world too...

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (40)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 08/01/09

I'm not sure how, but somehow I know what the velvet ribbon is for, where it belongs. Wrapping it around my wrist, I am not surprised that it fits perfectly or that, when I close the clasp, the black ribbon lies snug and flat against my skin. -- pg. 61

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Month in Review: July

July was interesting. The workload increased for my job this month, which meant more often than not, we were stuck staying late. And staying late for an overnight shift really sucks. These extra hours, and just the physical aspect of the job, really took it's toll. I could barely stay awake. And on days I could keep my eyes open, I just didn't want to read. So, needless to say, my reading total for July is lame. I'm back to dayside with my old position starting this week so I'll be working slightly less hours, probably won't have to stay late, and it won't be nearly as physical (I work in the Pizza Hut in my local Target, as opposed to helping remodel our store overnight). If I don't read more books in August, I'll be really upset, but I don't see that happening.

Anyway, I'm done complaining... Here are the books I read in July(along with links to their respective reviews):

July: 5

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel (ARC) 3.5 Stars

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 3.5 Stars
(I read this book in preparation of watching the movie. While I enjoyed it, I'm not sure if I could write a review without ranting about the movie so I'm gonna hold off for now.)

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater 4 Stars

Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong (ARC) 4.5 Stars
Review coming soon

Insatiable by Meg Cabot DNF
(I lost interest in this novel a little, but the bigger reason I didn't finish was because it was due back to the library. I may pick it up again in the future.)




So what did everyone else read in June? :)

In My Mailbox (44)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Bought:

Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost
City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane
As Lie the Dead by Kelly Meding
Darkfever by Karen Moning



Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway
The Year of Disappearances by Susan Hubbard
Betrayal by Gillian Shields



Bought Used:

Thunderbird Falls by C.E. Murphy
Coyote Dreams by C.E. Murphy