4.5 Stars!**This review assumes some understanding of the events from the first book in the trilogy.**With UNDERNEATH, author Jes Young brings us back to the world of Tab Bennett, the Princess of Twilight and Dawn, and it’s a much, much darker world than I expected. In the first book, TAB BENNETT AND THE INBETWEEN, we were introduced to Tab, a 25 year old bank teller, sheltered and protected by a large family of sisters and cousins. Tab has a lot of growing up to do, especially when she discovers who she really is, where she really comes from, and who her family truly is to her. Tab makes these huge discoveries, falls in love, fights for her life, and finally accepts a destiny she never knew was hers. In UNDERNEATH, we are brought forward about a year after the events of Inbetween and Tab is coming into her new role, trying to master her powers, and ready to take her relationship with her fiancè to the next level.Did I have a plan? No. Did I have a weapon? Technically, but my knife was like a toothpick in comparison to his sword. I flew at him anyway.I liked Tab in this book even more than I did in the first one. She has definitely matured. She’s learning to navigate that line between the old Tab and the new. She takes decisive action and is not afraid to command when needed. What I also appreciated is the fact that she very realistically embodies the two worlds she straddles – the light and the dark. Tab struggles with a need for revenge, a need that sets the ball rolling for the events that take place in this book. Tab wants to travel to the Underneath to confront Daniel, the Dark King, and she is hell-bent on exacting that revenge. When you are so focused on one, very emotional goal, rational thought isn’t very close behind. However, I do think that it was a bit hard to believe there wasn’t really a plan. You see, she does go to the Underneath with several trusted friends but they seemingly go without any real plan in place. I found that slightly unrealistic especially when considering good friends are risking their lives for her. But that doesn’t really matter because once they got there, I was swept into the story and didn’t look back.The Light Elvish magic may have moved from my mother to me when she died, technically making me the keeper of all things pure, bright, and good, but I wouldn’t exactly call myself those things.Once in the Underneath, Tab is seduced by the dark; she recognizes the beauty that can be had in it and she gives into some of her dark desires for revenge. There are two scenes, one abbreviated, that really are spectacular in their darkness. I appreciate that Young “went there.” It showed Tab’s battle between light and dark and is realistic in that, if given the choice in a similar situation, many of us really wouldn’t turn the other cheek. And while being in the Underneath enhanced her dark feelings, the core of those feelings, that dark need for revenge, existed way before she traveled to the Underneath. I love that conflict in Tab. I waved my hand, silencing them. The Gift of Light and Air is great, but the ability to quiet a room full of agitated men is priceless.I also love Tab’s voice. She’s smart and full of snark. There were lines here that made me laugh out loud. I also enjoy the fact that Tab addresses the reader from time to time. This was a device used in the first book and I think Young uses it just as effectively here. It draws the reader in and makes you feel like Tab is speaking only to you. It also makes me wonder from what point in the future she’s telling this story because there’s an element of “looking back” that works very well here.The romance develops but a new possibility enters the picture in the form of Finnegan Blackthorn. I, on the other hand, still have hopes for Robben. So he’s lied to her, betrayed her trust, maybe was even part of a plot to harm her. We all make mistakes, no? There is more action here than in the first book which is great. I like good action sequences in my UF. However, I felt they tended to be a bit short and lacking in detail but the emphasis was on character interaction which I appreciate.And let’s not even talk about the ending. Young treats her characters with little sentimentality in the end. I love that in an author. It was heartbreaking, shocking, devastating. And at the same time…exciting. I want to see what Tab does next. I want to know how she can accomplish what she sets out to do. With the odds against her, can she make it happen? And if you want to know what “it” is, you have to read UNDERNEATH to figure it out.This was a great entry in a wonderful new trilogy. I’ve officially decided I will read anything Jes Young writes.The author provided a review copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.This review is courtesy of SHE-WOLF READS.
I've read two of Perez-Reverte's books and have decided that his conclusions or solutions are never as well-done as the road to get to them. Loved the premise of this one and enjoyed journey to the end. The climax and resolution were meh.
LEASHING THE TEMPEST by Jenn Bennett was the perfect little novella for me. With the right length and perfect pacing, it gave me a taste of the characters and added some development to the series; it made me feel like I was back home, and then it whet my appetite for more. The Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorites. And what makes it one of my favorites is Jenn Bennet’s ability to really capture the chemistry and camaraderie between Lon, Cady, and Jupe. I love it when writers give the characters moments to just shoot the shit. It makes them more real to me and gives a better understanding of why two characters are together or why they want to actually spend time with one another. Bennett always gives her characters these moments and they’re always pitch perfect. The banter between Jupe, Lon, Cady and Kar Yee made me laugh out loud; it made me want to be on that boat with them…well, until all hell breaks loose.There is magic and mayhem; great dialogue and a sweet moment between Lon and Cady. We learn more about Jupe’s knack and spend more time with Kar Yee. This is a great novella for fans of the series who want more Cady and Co. and can’t wait for the May 2013 release of BINDING THE SHADOWS. I would even go so far as to say that readers new to the series, who would like a taste of Arcadia, could read this one and not be lost yet get a sense of the relationships, writing style, and magic that makes up the series as a whole. Whether you start here or with KINDLING THE MOON, book one, you need to start somewhere – Arcadia Bell is one of the best. And you have until May to get ready for the new release. So, what are you waiting for?This review is courtesy of SHE-WOLF READS.
THE CHARMED by Christine Wenrick is a paranormal romance that centers around Olivia Greyson, a graduate student studying music who recently lost her parents in a terrible accident. During a fantastic opening scene in which a train crash brings her face to face with a man from her past, Caleb Wolfe, Olivia is forced to recognize the supernatural world she never knew existed. Caleb, a vampire, takes her to the home he shares with his coven, Jax and Gemma, and Olivia soon discovers that she is not who or what she thought she was. As she and Caleb grow closer, the powers that be, including Olivia’s own supernatural powers, threaten to tear them apart.Twilight comparisons abound while reading THE CHARMED. From the setting of Washington state to the welcoming family of vampires, from the brooding vampire hero to the almost Alice-like character that is Gemma May, it was hard to read this book and not make comparisons. Perhaps the biggest similarity was the YA feel that is intentional in Twilight but not so intentional in THE CHARMED. For me, this was the biggest problem I had with the book. Olivia is 26 but in every action, thought, and feeling, she seems much younger. Olivia emotes with a lot of exclamations! She keeps things from the people she supposedly loves and cares for because she wants to live in a bubble for a few days, regardless of the fact that her admission literally brings danger to their doorstep. I just couldn’t find this redeemable, likeable, or even understandable in a mature woman. Finally, even the language she uses when referring to Caleb, her “angel”, her “love”, her “blue eyed warrior”, felt too melodramatic. And Caleb’s constant reference to her as his “sweet girl” further infantilized Olivia in my mind.The romance between Caleb and Olivia is the central storyline of the book. Their connection is instant. Too quick for me. Olivia just experienced a tragic accident in which she witnessed her best friend, whom she has known since she was a child, being brutally murdered in front of her. When Olivia is rescued by Caleb and taken to his home, she recuperates and heals with Caleb’s help. She shows momentary sadness for the loss of her friend, but then, all too suddenly, is completely focused on Caleb and her new feelings. This was a bit of a turnoff for me. I would have liked to see some real struggle, some real fight in dealing with the loss of her friend (plus parents she lost six months prior to the train crash) while simultaneously trying to understand her feelings for Caleb. It was almost as if this hot, brooding vampire supplanted everything else and her world instantly becomes Caleb. The bones of the idea were good – she’s lost everything and everyone, it’s understandable she would cling to Caleb and his family. However, I wanted to feel something more than insta-lust/love, something profound. Amazing sex on a piano isn’t enough (it doesn’t hurt though).Also, Olivia feels too much like a victim needing to be rescued. I hope this changes over the development of the trilogy. I appreciate that she isn’t the typical kickass heroine who, over the course of five pages, is suddenly able to take down 20 vampires singlehandedly along with a shot of whiskey. But I do want to see Olivia become more independent. We all like an alpha male but it’s more compelling when he’s paired with a real partner, someone who doesn’t always need the protection but appreciates it. Caleb is an interesting character, tormented by what he’s become and struggling to maintain some humanity. I like him but he’s not given much to do but growl and protect Olivia. Jax and Gemma are also an interesting pair and I hope they have some sort of conclusion to what looks to be something romantic brewing between them. New characters are introduced later in the book, but I think their roles will figure more prominently in the second book in the trilogy.THE CHARMED has received outstanding reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and from fellow bloggers I trust so I think my take on this book is really a matter of personal preference. I like some of the ideas here and there is a compelling plot twist at the end of the book that has you wondering what the future holds for Caleb and Olivia, but it just wasn’t enough for me. I actually read the follow-up, THE CHARMED SOULS, just to see if I would have a different reaction. Unfortunately, I felt the same way about book two.This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
If the Duke of Robinsworth had known it would be so difficult to raise a daughter alone, he never would have killed his wife.What a fantastic opening line. It was this first sentence that made me pick up A LADY AND HER MAGIC by Tammy Falkner from my TBR pile and then not put it down. This line introduces Ashley Trimble, Duke of Robinsworth, wealthy widower and suspected murderer. While out with his young daughter, Anne, he runs into the lovely and enchanting Sophia. It may seem like a coincidence, but Sophia has secrets and this meeting, unbeknownst to the Duke, was planned. Sophia has a wonderful affect on the hard to handle Anne and she makes an indelible impression on the Duke. After this “chance” encounter, they meet again at the Duke’s country estate. His mother is throwing a party in an effort to rehabilitate the Duke’s sinister reputation (but really she just wants to gamble with her friends) and Sophia and her grandmother are invited quests of the Duchess. So begins the Duke’s effort to win Sophia’s heart. Sophia herself tries to stick to her job as a fairy, safeguard her future from her attraction to the Duke, and keep a wily gnome from getting too involved in her business.Words that came to mind after finishing A LADY AND HER MAGIC are “sweet,” “frothy,” “fun”… "a confection of a tale.” Get the idea? This is a light, romantic story about a fairy on a mission who falls in love with a human despite the obstacles in their way. I’m a sucker for a period paranormal so I loved the fact that this was set in Regency England with a fey influence. However, this isn’t a story of the dark fey. This is a pixie dust, Tinker Bell, type of fairytale. Sophia is a mission fairy who is sent to the Robinsworth estate to help the family for a specific reason. For me, the weakest part of this story lay precisely in its paranormal aspects. I guess Sophia is a fairy godmother? I have no idea. I don’t understand why there are even mission fairies, why they care about the human world, what the point of their “humanitarian” missions are and what exactly they can do other than morph into little fairies with wings and spread truth dust. The world-building left a lot to be desired in this one. What was there was cute, fun, and light. I actually appreciate that this wasn’t a doom and gloom paranormal. There were a couple of dark moments but overall these weren’t the fey that make you too scared to eat the food. Reading something that was a bit more lighthearted in nature was a good change. I just wish it were a bit more developed. Unpardonable Error #5: Never, ever fall in love with a human.Mission fairies live and work by five unpardonable errors. One of which is to never fall in love with a human. For me, what really worked here was the romance. I loved Ashley Trimble, Duke of Robinsworth. He is a lonely, misunderstood man. Smart, powerful, and isolated. Sophia has an irreverent take on human society and their rules; she is a breath of fresh air to the Duke’s lonely existence. They have wonderful chemistry. I loved the shifting POVs and really enjoyed the Duke’s struggle to win Sophia’s heart. The supporting cast is fun – Wilson the loyal butler, the Duchess with her sharp tongue and gambling habit, the Duke’s brother, the rakish Finn, and Ronald, the snooping garden gnome. The dialogue was witty, the pace was just right, and the period setting was well done.I would classify this as a more traditional romance with a light paranormal twist. It was a fast and fun read. I just wish there was more there…the world-building was a little too featherweight for me to really sink my teeth into. Regardless, it was a sweet romantic tale, a fun diversion from the darker stuff I normally read.This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
I have to admit the reason it took me so long to pick this book up had to do with the idea of an enchanted iPod and a horny miniature unicorn. When I read reviews that mentioned these elements of the story, I immediately thought…not me. I was so very wrong. Yes, there is an enchanted iPod and yes there is a horny unicorn, but trust me, it works. A Brush of Darkness is dark, exciting, and romantic in a very complex way, with wonderful touches of humor and some well-timed snark. Abby Sinclair, a human with a haunted past, is the TouchStone for a powerful Fey, Moira. A Touchstone is a human that acts as a tie or an anchor to the mortal world. Without one, the fey or OtherFolk, can only come to the mortal world during certain hours via the Crossroads. Moira is the Protectorate of the OtherFolk in the mortal realm, basically she’s the law, and she helps maintain the balance between those of the Light (angels and such) and those of the dark (daemons and vampires, etc). The only problem is Moira is missing and Abby has no idea where she’s gone or when she’ll be back. She has to act as Moira’s representative when she is gone and that’s hard to do when you have no idea what the heck is going on. When a beautiful incubus named Brystion comes looking for help for his missing sister and other succubi who have been kidnapped and murdered, it becomes apparent that there is a connection between Moira’s disappearance and Brystion’s sister. It’s a race against time to find the answers and Abby has to learn the rules quickly if she wants to save her friend and, eventually, herself. The author, Allison Pang, is a gamer and like any good RPG player, she knows the rules of the world aren’t going to be so easily laid out for you. You have to learn them on your own. Sometimes the hard way. She transfers that idea to the world she creates in A Brush of Darkness. Abby is neck deep in the happenings of the OtherFolk and she has not one iota of a clue about what’s going on around her. And, to a certain extent, neither do you. The complex world is set out at a very deliberate pace. You uncover and discover things along with Abby. It’s complicated and during the first half of the book I found myself having to go back and re-read passages to make sure I understood everything. But that’s ok because the rich imagery and originality of the world sucked me in from the start, pulling me in deeper and deeper until the complexity didn’t matter anymore. I just wanted to keep learning more.This book is categorized as an urban fantasy but it feels more like a paranormal romance. The majority of the book is taken up by the developing relationship between Abby and Brystion, and it’s a complicated one at that. There’s a fundamental lack of trust between the two and I found this fascinating. I can’t remember reading a PNR in which I honestly wasn’t sure whether I should trust the hero or main love interest. Brystion is an incubus. He’s all lust and seduction so he manifests the desires of others. It’s what he is. Is he true or just what you want him to be? And can Abby love him for what he is or is she just manifesting what she wants him to be? Such an interesting dynamic. At the heart of their relationship I think there’s love but is there trust? Not so sure. These are both characters that are broken in their own ways, alone and closed off; I’m not sure if these two can find happiness in each other. But I want them to.By the second half of the book the mystery of Moira moves full speed ahead and I really couldn’t put it down. The resolution felt a bit complicated and I wasn’t really sure I knew all the answers or the “why?” of it all. I had to re-read a couple of the explanations to get it but, again, that’s fine. The complexity of this world and the relationships of the people in it are what drew me in, and, honestly, what sent me back. As soon as I finished, I downloaded the next in the series. Abby and Brystion have me hooked.4.5 stars and highly recommended! This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
Let’s get the preliminaries out of the way – I loved this book. Absolution has officially cemented Sandlin’s Penton Legacy as one of my favorite new series this year. When I finished Redemption, book one in the series, my first thought was that I hoped we’d get more Mirren in the next book. And that’s exactly what Sandlin gives us in Absolution – a story focused on the mysterious and brooding Mirren Kincaid, physically intimidating, a lethal warrior with a dark past and a tortured soul. Mirren is such a great character. He’s physically huge, almost 7ft tall, 300 some pounds, covered in tattoos, and trained as a lethal killer since he was a child. His past is dark. A mercenary known as The Slayer, he walked away from the world of murder for hire and into Penton where he carved out a new life for himself, one in which he didn’t have to do the bidding of the Tribunal and death at his hands is for a higher purpose – the protection of Penton. But does he really find peace from his past? No. This is a character filled with such self-loathing and hatred it’s palpable. Death and murder are all he has known and Mirren can’t move forward or imagine himself as something more than violence incarnate as the darkness of his past holds him prisoner. Enter Gloriana Cummings, a human with special abilities of her own, abilities that have made her feel “less than” her entire life. Glory is, well, a motor-mouth but she’s also funny, loyal, strong of character, generous and caring. She takes no shit and is fiercely independent. The pain of her past also haunts her but, unlike Mirren, she refuses to let it define her. When these two are thrown together it’s explosive. Sandlin knows how to create chemistry and tension between her leads. Mirren and Glory have a connection, whether they want to admit it or not, and it’s wonderful how Sandlin develops this connection over the course of the book. It’s both tender and sexy as hell. Glory sees in Mirren what no one else does, not even Mirren himself; she sees the real Mirren underneath the scars of his past. To watch her excavate the man inside is tense and so very romantic. There is a great scene towards the end of the book where Mirren seems to have gone back to the bloodlust of his past and Glory has to help bring him back. That scene was brimming with tension, a bit scary, and yet so full of tenderness and care that the combination had me on edge. From the start, I just wanted these characters to have their happily ever after.Sandlin also takes the wider story of the series to the next level. The community of Penton, a small southern town where vampires and humans live in peace and mutual benefit, is under threat. That wider war I was looking for after the first book is heading straight for this idyllic community. The action scenes are well done; events happen in several locations which successfully ratchets up the stress level. Absolution ends at a point in the wider story that makes the upcoming book a must read. The future of Penton is uncertain to say the least and I’m very curious to know where Sandlin is going to take us next.I really could go on and on…the banter between characters is pitch perfect, a devastating loss at the end of the book lets you know Sandlin isn’t afraid to let go, and the introduction of the combustible partnership between lieutenants Randa and Will sets the stage for the next romantic relationship in the series. Sandlin has said this series was originally set as a trilogy. I hope not. I need more. Penton already feels like home. A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads
**A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.**Is it possible to miss a world you’ve never visited? A world that actually doesn’t exist? This is what I asked myself after finishing Delilah S. Dawson’s The Mysterious Madam Morpho, a novella that takes place between books one and two in her Blud Series. You see, I loved the first book, Wicked As They Come. I loved the two main characters, Criminy Stain and Tish Everett. I loved the wholly original world that Dawson created with her unique Bludmen, the traveling caravan of misfits who somehow fit together, and the raging bloodsucking bunnies, badgers, and stags that terrorize the countryside. This is the world of Sang. And I missed it. The Mysterious Madam Morpho takes place two years after the end of Wicked As They Come and opens with the said Madam Morpho seeking employment with Criminy’s caravan. Tish takes a glance at Madam Morpho’s future, whispers something in a skeptical Criminy’s ear, and Madam Morpho is immediately hired. It’s a great scene that reminded me of why I loved Criminy and Tish in the first book. They are…enchanting. And so begins the mystery of who Madam Morpho is and what she is trying to escape. "Thank you, Mr Murdoch," she said. "Truly, and please, call me Imogen.""You're welcome, Imogen," he said, pencil scratching across the paper. "And you can continue to call me Mr. Murdoch." As part of her caravan act, Madam Morpho needs the assistance of the equally mysterious Mr. Murdoch, the caravan’s clockworks creator. Madam Morpho trusts him immediately and they begin working very closely together to get her act up and running. They are both fueled by science and invention and they are both very lonely people, hiding their secrets, and keeping people at a distance.I loved Madam Morpho – she’s intelligent and very blunt. She's had a horrendous past but doesn’t let it get in the way of defining a new future for herself. She’s like the rare butterflies that make up her act – ready for a metamorphosis, but one of her own design. Murdoch is just as tortured as she is and with a tragic past of his own. Together they are combustible. The romance is very sexy and very, very sweet. This is one thing I’ve come to appreciate in Dawson’s writing. She hits the right note in terms of the sexy but there's always something utterly sweet and romantic about the love scenes as well. Dawson also creates a sense of tension as Madam Morpho's past must inevitably collide with her present. There's a beautiful scene where she's finally able to perform her carnival act with the full knowledge that she'll be discovered by those who are searching for her. There's a wonderful juxtaposition of wonder and sadness as we witness something rare and beautiful while at the same time realizing that this is only a moment and that it won't last.And of course the world of Sang and the lives of the carnivalleros…dreamy, surreal, grotesque, macabre, adventurous, sweet, humorous, scary. Original. When I started this short novella, after a few pages, I thought to myself, “I missed you, Sang.” And I breathed a sigh of comfort as I settled into one of my favorite new places to be.The Mysterious Madam Morpho is a wonderful short novella, a quick read filled with romance and some adventure (blud badgers anyone?), and while I think the two main characters may have connected a little too soon and a little too quickly, the story was still able to captivate me from beginning to end. Now, I just have to wait until April for my next fix, ahem, taste of Sang.Review courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
**The author provided a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**This is another hard one for me to review. I think what it comes down to is that I liked the story but not necessarily the storytelling. In Armusik’s debut novel, she creates an interesting world and premise: a young woman, tired of feeling out of place and, at one time, powerless, in a small town in Pennsylvania, hops a plane to Prague to start a new life, continue her research on vampire folklore, and, ultimately, fulfill a destiny she never knew she had. With its interesting vampire mythology rooted in biblical legend and a storyline ripe with potential, I had high hopes for Memoirs of a Gothic Soul. Unfortunately, the storytelling kept me at arms length and prevented me from connecting with the characters.One of the book’s strongest elements is its vampire origin story. Armusik provides biblical roots to the vampire creation myth which points to a very complicated relationship between vampires and God. In traditional Gothic tales, the vampire is a creature of Hell. In Armusik’s world, they are creatures of Heaven banished to Earth to live immortally alongside mankind. There is rich material here for conflict both in terms of physical battle but also in terms of more weighty issues like good vs. evil, faith and belief, and the like. This world is interesting and dynamic. Armusik sets up a fantastic supernatural backstory in which to drop her heroine, Nadija Fey.Another strong point of the novel is the story arc for Nadija. She goes from powerless to powerful over the course of the book. I connected with the idea of a young woman finding herself in a foreign land, of moving away from the expected and immersing herself in an unfamiliar world only to find both romance and terror there. Great ideas are at play. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with Nadija personally and I felt this way for several reasons. First, Nadija’s voice is very formal. There are quite a few lines like this: I must have fallen asleep with my book in my hand, for it was resting upon my stomach. A young woman, barely in her 20s, in a contemporary novel, just doesn’t speak like this. It came across as stiff and forced. Nadijia also rarely spoke in contractions which enhanced this formal voice, making it feel less conversational and more distancing. I get that Nadijia is an old soul but she came across as pretentious and overwritten. For instance, I feared the staleness that was settling in – the ominous familiarity that brought with it regret and certainty. Although I hated uncertainty – the weakness and frailty that moved one’s mind to the center of an argument – I hated certainty in my future more. I wanted my life to romantically unravel to reveal itself in small portions that were easily digested. My life, if it continued here, would be revealed quickly and with certainty – a most unpalatable dish.There are great moments in that passage but I needed to read it a couple of times to get to the meat of it. Also, I felt there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. We know Nadija is intelligent mainly because she keeps telling us. Yet she puts herself in several situations that I find lack evidence of deeper thought. I don’t want to give too much away but there is work to be done with Nadija’s great grandmother who has to show her, and prepare her, for her destiny. There should be more scenes where we actually see her learning, training and becoming this new woman. We don’t. The few scenes we have don’t feel central to Nadija’s character development. At a key moment in a pivotal scene when she has to prove herself to a council of supernaturals, Nadija has a surprise. What happens in that scene should not have been a surprise to the reader. Her self-discovery should have been a journey the reader was privy to, where we see her growth and are not told about it. Finally, the romance in the book is a cornerstone of the story. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters. It felt like they were together only because they were prophesied to be soulmates. There was lust, but I didn’t feel any deeper connection than that.This book has gotten rave reviews on Goodreads so I know it’s been well-received by other reviewers. For myself, I think there are good ideas here. This is the author’s first book and I plan on reading the next in the series to see if the issues I have with it have ironed themselves out. Unfortunately, with Memoirs of a Gothic Soul, I just couldn’t connect enough with the characters or the storytelling to give it a high recommendation. 2.5 StarsThis review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads
What is it about werewolf stories I love so much? When I finished Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson, I knew the answer: I love pack dynamics and mythologies. From Mercy Thompson’s world and, now, to Jessica McClain’s, when I turn the last page and close the book, I always want to join the pack. Carlson knows how to give an action packed opening. Full Blooded starts with Jessica McClain, only daughter of the alpha of the U.S. Northern Territories, at the start of her first change, a change that was never supposed to happen. And this is where I really loved Full Blooded – the werewolf mythology and world. Carlson creates something unique with the idea of a world in which female werewolves don’t exist. Instead, there is the Cain Myth, the superstitious belief that a female werewolf will come along and be the downfall of the entire race. Now, with Jessica’s change, she is the embodiment of what the werewolf world fears most. I love this set up. It puts Jessica at the center of an overwhelming conflict between those who want her dead and those who will do anything to protect her. It provides the perfect backdrop for a heroine to come into her own with plenty of potential for discovery and action.It’s raining men in Full Blooded - her hothead brother Tyler, his flirty friend Danny, James, her father’s second in command, and Nick, her werefox best friend. And then there is Rourke. Oh boy. Great chemistry between Jessica and Rourke. Sexy times. But what the heck is he? I loved that he’s such a badass who can make the wolves sweat yet no one really knows what he is. It’s a mystery that has the potential to play out over the course of the series but I want answers now! Don’t even get me started on the vampires. They were definitely interesting, frightening, and they didn’t sparkle. Full Blooded is an action-packed introduction to an original supernatural world. Carlton has created a new spin on the werewolf mythology and a new heroine who has to navigate this world carefully. Jessica is just coming into her own and I think we’ll all be surprised at her potential and power. Kudos to Amanda Carlton for a refreshing and engaging debut. This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads
I liked this book. I liked it a lot. From the unique setting of a London above and a London below, to a heroine that is complex and problematic, Tarnished has some very unique qualities that set it apart and make me interested in what happens next to its main protagonist, Cherry St. Croix.The world Cooper created here is fantastic. This is a steampunk Victorian London where the city is divided in two – London above and London below. Due to industrial development, the polluting fog created by factories became a nuisance to London’s wealthy. The answer? Build a London above the fog, or the drift, so that those with money could live above it all. A city built on stilts and flying machines that travel in between is the London in the world of Tarnished. And there is definitely a difference between the two – above is wealth and privilege; below is poverty, thick pollution and crime. This world is so richly imagined that it wasn’t hard to picture it as I was reading. Read the rest of this 3.5 star review at She-Wolf Reads
The plot of this novella is straightforward – four sisters with unusual (understatement) abilities are in the midst of settling into their new Lake Tahoe home when, on a night out to celebrate, one of the sisters, Taran, to be exact, pisses off a witch. And then all hell breaks lose. This is a wonderfully imaginative, action packed story that sets up what looks to be a great new urban fantasy series by debut author, Cecy Robson.From the start, what I loved about this story was its tone. The Weird Girls has a wonderful balance of light and dark. One minute there is a pop culture reference to Beyoncé, snarky comments that make you laugh, and a lighthearted feel to the close bonds shared by these four unique sisters. The next minute there is a sense of violence and tragedy that haunts the Wird sisters and that hints at a dark past. Celia, the oldest, spends the story facing violent trials to the death in an effort to protect her sisters from a crazed witch. And when I say violent, I mean the bloody kind; the kind that shows Celia will do anything to protect those she cares about. I liked this dichotomy, this idea that while these women try to live out their lives as normally as possible, there is nothing they can do to keep the supernatural world, and all of its inherent violence, out of their lives. It also proves that they can rise to the challenge and protect their own. Amid the lighthearted feeling of sisterhood, Robson doesn’t shy away from the dark and the unsettling. She can crack a joke that makes you smile and on the next page write something that totally switches the mood and makes you wonder how Celia is going to survive the next fight.This is also a very imaginative world. The sisters each have unique abilities that set them apart from humans. I also think it sets them apart from other supernaturals but we really only meet witches in this novella. And what absolutely fear inducing witches these are! For me, witches tend to be the least interesting supernaturals in the fantasy world. Kudos to Robson for creating witches that are powerful, clever in their sense of violence, and who also make me step back and think they’re a real force to be reckoned with. We know that vampires and shifters also exist but the Wird girls know very little about this world since they’ve done their best to keep out of it. I think this is a great setup. I assume we’ll learn more about the supernatural alongside the sisters as they struggle to adapt to new rules and relationships.Speaking of relationships…there is a hint of a romance that is just fantastic. A mystery man that haunts Celia’s dreams…I’m dying to know where that storyline is going to take us.Robson writes with a sense of exuberance. I feel like she had as much fun writing The Weird Girls as I had reading it. I can’t wait to see what happens next to these sisters. Something tells me it’s going to be a wild ride.This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
Fun, fun, fun. This was my first thought when finishing Cecy Robson’s debut novel, SEALED WITH A CURSE. After having just recently finished the novella for the series, THE WEIRD GIRLS, I knew I was in for a wild ride and Robson did not disappoint. One of the best things about Sealed with a Curse is its central cast of characters – the Wird sisters. I love these girls. There’s Celia, the oldest and the main character of this story, who can shift into a tiger in addition to having a couple of other very cool powers. She is independent, strong, and fiercely protective of her sisters. But Celia has spent her entire life taking care of others; she is scary to humans who can sense her beast beneath the surface and this has left her intensely lonely. Then there is Taran, the wild child of the bunch who can fry you with her fingertips. She’s a smart ass and provides a lot of laughs throughout the story. For all her bravado I think there’s someone a little more vulnerable inside and I can’t wait to see that storyline develop. Shayna is a kickass knife thrower/swordswoman/archer who can bend wood and metal to her demands. Finally, there’s Emme, the sweet innocent, who can heal with a touch and move things with her mind. These super close, protective sisters really make this story come alive. Their individual voices are well-defined and distinct. The only sister that feels like the “middle child” is Shayna and I think Robson successfully makes her stand out by the end of the story. Some of the best scenes in the book are the interactions the girls have with each other. Robson hits the right notes in terms of creating a wonderful chemistry between the sisters that draws you into their lives and leaves you wanting to be adopted by the clan. However, they do have a tragic past, one that is a bit shrouded in mystery as to how they got their powers. It’s explained as a backfired curse and it’s fun to see how other supernaturals in the Tahoe area try to figure out exactly what they are and what these ladies can do. I also love the fact that the Wird sisters are completely irreverent when it comes to the social mores of the supernatural world. When speaking to the right hand man of a master vampire, Taran could care less how dangerous he is which makes this line priceless:Everyone stood except for Hank. As Misha’s bodyguard, he didn’t appreciate my taking charge. Taran slapped his arm. “We all want to go home alive – well, you dead freaks know what I mean – so back off and quit acting like a bitch.”Robson also drops hilarious lines like this:I opened my robe and stared at the girls, mortified and convinced the universe hated me. If he had to see my breasts, why couldn’t it have been the perkier of the two?I also loved the fact that the Wird sisters are Latina. I’ve gone on record lamenting the lack of diversity in the world of UF/PNR and loved that the Weird Girls series injects some much needed diversity into the genres. The ladies aren’t afraid of expressing their Latina heritage and I applaud that. Robson also includes some side characters that further add diversity to the cast and was a refreshing change to what can typically be a heterogeneous supernatural world.The world-building was also very original. And complex. While the prequel/novella focused on witches, Sealed with a Curse introduces us to the world of weres and vampires. There is too much to even begin to explain but some of the things I found interesting were the power dependencies of a master vampire on his/her family, the magic source of Lake Tahoe, a hotbed of supernatural beings, the power of gold which is dangerous to all supes, and The Den, a school for werewolves, the protectors of the earth. There are a lot of rules here and it can become overwhelming. The sisters themselves know very little about the supernatural world so we learn right along with them.The story is also action-packed. If this were made into a film there would be a lot, and I mean a lot, of CGI required to get it right. There are some really fierce fight scenes, perhaps a little too many. I love the action but some of the best moments for me were the interactions between the sisters and the scenes of budding romance between them and their potential mates. Right when things calm down and we’re sitting back enjoying a nice moment between characters, action ensues, someone has to race off or the sisters are thrown into a fight. One or two action scenes less would have been a better balance for me.Finally, as a side note, Gemini is one of the coolest werewolves ever. I’ll let you discover why his name is Gemini. I feel like there could be a spinoff series on him alone.I can honestly say this is some of the best fun I’ve had with a new UF in a long time. There is some darkness, some lightness, action and romance, magic and mayhem. I said this in my review of The Weird Girls and I’ll say it again: Robson writes with a sense of exuberance. You can feel the energy and glee in her writing and it’s refreshing. She loves these sisters and I think you will too.4.5 Stars!!!This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads