If you love books where the girl falls for alpha, then this is the book for you. Blood & Magic Series (Books 1-3) by Danielle Annett held a lot of promise to be original and not become the typical strong girl winds up being the Alpha's mate. In fact, I was hoping it would continue because I loved the chemistry between James and Aria (James was not the Alpha, but a Hunter an equally dominant position in the Pack. Points for the book). However, after the first book, it went downhill pretty fast, and I was starting to get tired of Aria's sh*t pretty quickly.
Don't get me wrong the first book was terrific although I wound up hating who Aria wound up with because his character came on a little too loud and I know he is supposed to be an Alpha who has never been challenged in 9 years, I wanted him dead the moment I met him. The chemistry between them felt false especially at the end of the first book where he is thinking about how his beast acts when Aria is around. That is when the "oh no, it's going to be one of those books" kicked in and here I was hoping I had finally picked a book where a strong female ends up with someone who is not the Alpha *ahem* like with James *cough, cough*.
To make it even more fun, I don't think the author remembered what she wrote in the first book, and you want to know how I know? In the first book, the Compound -the home of the shifters- is ten stories from the roof to the ground and Declan the Alpha has snowy white hair. However, in book two, the Compound is eight stories high, and Declan has blond eyebrows all of a sudden. Oh, and he looked like he was in his fifties and should be in his fifties in the first book, but the other two books Declan looks like he's in his thirties. There might be other more discrepancies that can be passed off as magical, but I gave up caring about the book at around that time.
What made me quit the book was the magical two words in chapter 65: "Alpha's mate". Eff you. I mean, why? Does it somehow validate females as being strong if they are with the alphas or something? Why must females always be with the alphas or the betas? Does it demean them in some way if they do not become the mate of someone influential in the pack?
It got old pretty quickly especially when Aria is all "oh, I must resist my attraction" to almost every guy she met. When she is with Declan, it felt forced because she is all I must not let him know I am attracted to him. I must show him how strong and tough I am. When she is with Inarus it was an instant attraction until lo and behold, he turns out to be working for the "enemy," and that makes him the enemy. So, you always know when Inarus is showing up because she is always chucking her daggers at him while being all I cannot let him know I still find him attractive because he betrayed me. As for the chemistry with James, well, it is all but forgotten.
So, can I please kill Declan and Inarus? Those two annoyed the hell out of me. Heck, the only reason I read as far as I did was that I really liked James and Aria together because their relationship felt natural and not forced like all the other relationships except for when she was with Mike or Marion.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Friday, March 1, 2019
Darkly Disappointing
Pale Wolves by Thomas Hulse sounded so intriguing and dark. The cover was spectacular, and it had armies of the dead that grew claws and fangs. I so wanted to read this, but the publishers approving my request on NetGalley not even five minutes after I requested it should have been my first clue of disappointment.
Don't ask me what the opening sentence was because even though I just read it three hours ago, I could not tell you. There were so many fragmented sentences and no varieties to the sentence structure. I wanted to give up on this book after the first page but decided to give it a chance. Maybe there will be more showing and less telling later on, but no. The on;y reason I DNFed this at 14% instead of 1% was that my Kindle refused to let me read any other book.
If the author had just varied the sentences and showed me more of what the characters were doing maybe I could have loved the story. However, I could not connect to any of the characters, and suddenly two of the main characters are having sex with each other, and he is married to a pregnant wife that is when I was like "yeah no."
1 star.
Don't ask me what the opening sentence was because even though I just read it three hours ago, I could not tell you. There were so many fragmented sentences and no varieties to the sentence structure. I wanted to give up on this book after the first page but decided to give it a chance. Maybe there will be more showing and less telling later on, but no. The on;y reason I DNFed this at 14% instead of 1% was that my Kindle refused to let me read any other book.
If the author had just varied the sentences and showed me more of what the characters were doing maybe I could have loved the story. However, I could not connect to any of the characters, and suddenly two of the main characters are having sex with each other, and he is married to a pregnant wife that is when I was like "yeah no."
1 star.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Feyly Pleased
Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter is a creepy, brilliant, masterpiece. The book reminds me of And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich because of the eerie environment the main characters seem to find themselves in, and the way the characters act around each other with the bizarre things.
To be honest, I loved the characters and the fact that the author wrote the fey correctly. That fey is not afraid to cause mayhem like most fey books I have read. It is obvious the author did her homework when she wrote this novel. However, I kind of wish it was mentioned that they were fey because not once does any character acknowledge what they are or what their world is. If it were not in the title, I would not think that they were fey. It was so well done that they could have been brand new creatures no one has ever discovered.
There are only three things that brought it down from being five stars:
To be honest, I loved the characters and the fact that the author wrote the fey correctly. That fey is not afraid to cause mayhem like most fey books I have read. It is obvious the author did her homework when she wrote this novel. However, I kind of wish it was mentioned that they were fey because not once does any character acknowledge what they are or what their world is. If it were not in the title, I would not think that they were fey. It was so well done that they could have been brand new creatures no one has ever discovered.
There are only three things that brought it down from being five stars:
- The fey does not get mentioned by name.
- How on earth did two straight girls suddenly fall in love with each other? I feel like I needed a bit more of a clue that that was going to be a thing because it kind of felt like it got thrown into the book for a more diversified approach.
- What happened to Josh? We spend so much time investing in Ksenzia and Josh being madly in love with each other to all of a sudden she does not get to even see him. If he is her heart then why did that ending happen?
I would definitely recommend reading it, and I will most likely buy it. If anyone knows the answers to those question, please let me know. I would like to understand, so I can really appreciate the beauty. I am not blaming Ksenzia because she is emotionally uninvolved most the time, but when did Lexi decide she loves girls? I am so confused.
4 out of 5 stars.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
A magical book
Vivatera by Candace J. Thomas is an intriguing read, but it is one of those instalove books where Reynolds and Naomi fall in love with each other the moment they see each other clearly. However, she does not realize it until later when he leaves which is what I love about this story because yes it is an instalove novel, but the two love interests are not near each other for long. Most of the book are separate from each other.
I will not lie; I did not see half of the twists coming, and some of them I really had to figure out what was happening like the imposter Louving. It made sense later, and it felt like I should have seen it coming.
I loved Naomi and the gang while Reynolds will hold a place in my heart that he can take once he stops beating himself up for something Reyn did when he was nine. I feel like it ended abruptly without giving any clues as to what Zander and the group he was with was going to do. I am curious to see what will happen in the second book.
If anyone is looking for a new magic book to read for teens and young adults then I would recommend reading this book.
4.5 stars
I will not lie; I did not see half of the twists coming, and some of them I really had to figure out what was happening like the imposter Louving. It made sense later, and it felt like I should have seen it coming.
I loved Naomi and the gang while Reynolds will hold a place in my heart that he can take once he stops beating himself up for something Reyn did when he was nine. I feel like it ended abruptly without giving any clues as to what Zander and the group he was with was going to do. I am curious to see what will happen in the second book.
If anyone is looking for a new magic book to read for teens and young adults then I would recommend reading this book.
4.5 stars
Sunday, February 17, 2019
A Bloody Battle
* I am aware of the situation with this book and that this copy will not be the final copy to address these issues*
First off, I would like to thank NetGalley for the glitch that allowed me to read this book because it is fantastic. It reminded me of Hunger Games and Red Queen with just enough of an Anastasia story to it.
I don't see why people had issues with this book or why some people say that it is racist and distasteful. I'd read this over Throne of Glass any day.
I loved Ramson, and I think he was the best character because he is a character you can root for. Since Ramson wants to be redeemed but does not want to be redeemed or thinks he is worthy of it. Ana is a sweet little monster that will have people rooting for her from the first to last page.
May *sigh* talk about a Hunger Games moment all I could think of was Rue because they are both children and both die for a cause with the older person they look up to being unable to save them. Talk about a tug on the heartstrings.
I loved the different Affinities and the lengths the people will go to keep it hidden. Honestly, I think the world was perfect and an excellent reflection on the world today. Probably why some people could not like it because it forces them to see the world as it is: a cruel, horrible place full of despicable people and some people that are trying to do right through questionable means.
The only thing I would change in the book would be to clarify a couple of scenes like the beginning of the book. I read it as Ana was a prisoner, not her walking freely through the prison and following the guard she bribed with coins. Also, a clarification on what the money looks like because for the goldleaves I imagined currency shaped like leaves that were gold, but I don't think that is the case. Finally, how they entered the palace was unclear to me because at first I thought it was a cave and then the further I read it I started to think they were climbing straight up in a hole except all of a sudden there is a door and they enter it like they were standing the whole time. If those got clarified it would be a five-star book in my opinion.
I only have one more thing to say, and that is that those people that had issues with the book and ruined it for the rest of us, "Shame on you, it is a story, and that is the way the story was supposed to be written. It is what happens in Ana's and Ramson's world if you do not like it then you should have kept your mouth shut and let those that understand that enjoy a masterpiece."
Thank you and apologizes if I offended anyone I just don't like people that pull sh*t like that.
4.5 stars
First off, I would like to thank NetGalley for the glitch that allowed me to read this book because it is fantastic. It reminded me of Hunger Games and Red Queen with just enough of an Anastasia story to it.
I don't see why people had issues with this book or why some people say that it is racist and distasteful. I'd read this over Throne of Glass any day.
I loved Ramson, and I think he was the best character because he is a character you can root for. Since Ramson wants to be redeemed but does not want to be redeemed or thinks he is worthy of it. Ana is a sweet little monster that will have people rooting for her from the first to last page.
May *sigh* talk about a Hunger Games moment all I could think of was Rue because they are both children and both die for a cause with the older person they look up to being unable to save them. Talk about a tug on the heartstrings.
I loved the different Affinities and the lengths the people will go to keep it hidden. Honestly, I think the world was perfect and an excellent reflection on the world today. Probably why some people could not like it because it forces them to see the world as it is: a cruel, horrible place full of despicable people and some people that are trying to do right through questionable means.
The only thing I would change in the book would be to clarify a couple of scenes like the beginning of the book. I read it as Ana was a prisoner, not her walking freely through the prison and following the guard she bribed with coins. Also, a clarification on what the money looks like because for the goldleaves I imagined currency shaped like leaves that were gold, but I don't think that is the case. Finally, how they entered the palace was unclear to me because at first I thought it was a cave and then the further I read it I started to think they were climbing straight up in a hole except all of a sudden there is a door and they enter it like they were standing the whole time. If those got clarified it would be a five-star book in my opinion.
I only have one more thing to say, and that is that those people that had issues with the book and ruined it for the rest of us, "Shame on you, it is a story, and that is the way the story was supposed to be written. It is what happens in Ana's and Ramson's world if you do not like it then you should have kept your mouth shut and let those that understand that enjoy a masterpiece."
Thank you and apologizes if I offended anyone I just don't like people that pull sh*t like that.
4.5 stars
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Sandman Comes with Nightmares
Be prepared to lose sleep over this book because it is hard to put down Dream Keeper by Amber R. Duell. My heart has been ripped from its chest and stomped on before being placed back, and I want the feeling all over again.
I called all of the plot twists, but I still took delight in all of them. Oh, be still my beating heart Sandman/Ben are so dreamy and the love interest with Nora was perfect.
I will not say much for fear of spoiling even a second of the book, but if you love heroines that are not afraid to hide their emotions to get the job done, nightmares that freaked even me out especially the clown, and a swoon-worthy love interest, then this is the book for you. Even if it is not your thing, you should still read this book and share it with as many people as possible.
I'm doing my part to help the Sandman and Nora. Now it's your turn. Share, like, request it on NetGalley just get that book in your hands.
5/5 stars...
I called all of the plot twists, but I still took delight in all of them. Oh, be still my beating heart Sandman/Ben are so dreamy and the love interest with Nora was perfect.
I will not say much for fear of spoiling even a second of the book, but if you love heroines that are not afraid to hide their emotions to get the job done, nightmares that freaked even me out especially the clown, and a swoon-worthy love interest, then this is the book for you. Even if it is not your thing, you should still read this book and share it with as many people as possible.
I'm doing my part to help the Sandman and Nora. Now it's your turn. Share, like, request it on NetGalley just get that book in your hands.
5/5 stars...
Monday, January 7, 2019
Enlightenment Reader's Rant Edition
Warning: you are about to read a Reader's rant, and there will be swearing and spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Casanova, Romeo, Promiscuous man, womanizer, wolf, Don Juan, philanderer, mongrel, as*shole, jackass, dunce, dolt, eggheaded fool, arrogant, bastard... (deep breaths, deep breaths. Keep it together, but if anyone has any insults feel free to add them to the list that is the main male character, Adrian).
But I am getting ahead of myself. Enlightenment by Reno Ursal was terrific in the beginning, and I loved the characters and the setting. In fact, I devoured the story and could not wait to read more. It was a five out of five in mind, and then came the ending (keep it together.)
That ending is the whole reason for this rant, and my new deep found hatred for Adrian and all the names which I feel are not enough to express how I feel about him and what he did to Dorothy. The fucking asshole basically made her completely nonexistent and all because Stella reached "enlightenment," and he bounded with her. What the effing hell Adrian? Confess you have feelings for Dorothy and do all these romantic things that you never did with Stella and amazing how you never thought of Stella that way when she was not royalty and how you cannot be with Dorothy because she might be royalty.
Spoiler alert:
They both are, but it's okay to have feelings with Stella and completely string Dorothy along. There is not a word strong enough to describe what a jerk he is. In fact, it felt like reading Jacob in Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. Bella vs. Reneesme (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong it has been a long time since I read the series) except it is Stella vs. Dorothy who is guess what half-sisters. That's right folks. Fucking Adrian went for the half-sister after she died.
No offense to Stella I still love her, and it is not her fault with what happened. Nope, I am placing sole blame on Adrian (and I'm so mad I am ignoring my pet peeve of wondering if I spelled his name wrong. That jerk does not even deserve it.)
What is the equivalency to hell in the Philippines? Adrian deserves to rot in there for the shit that he does.
Okay, I swear I am done. I loved the history of the Phillippines, and that is what attracted me to the story in the first place. Plus, the cover is gorgeous, and I want to marry that cover.
The ending not at all.
3/5 stars.
Casanova, Romeo, Promiscuous man, womanizer, wolf, Don Juan, philanderer, mongrel, as*shole, jackass, dunce, dolt, eggheaded fool, arrogant, bastard... (deep breaths, deep breaths. Keep it together, but if anyone has any insults feel free to add them to the list that is the main male character, Adrian).
But I am getting ahead of myself. Enlightenment by Reno Ursal was terrific in the beginning, and I loved the characters and the setting. In fact, I devoured the story and could not wait to read more. It was a five out of five in mind, and then came the ending (keep it together.)
That ending is the whole reason for this rant, and my new deep found hatred for Adrian and all the names which I feel are not enough to express how I feel about him and what he did to Dorothy. The fucking asshole basically made her completely nonexistent and all because Stella reached "enlightenment," and he bounded with her. What the effing hell Adrian? Confess you have feelings for Dorothy and do all these romantic things that you never did with Stella and amazing how you never thought of Stella that way when she was not royalty and how you cannot be with Dorothy because she might be royalty.
Spoiler alert:
They both are, but it's okay to have feelings with Stella and completely string Dorothy along. There is not a word strong enough to describe what a jerk he is. In fact, it felt like reading Jacob in Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. Bella vs. Reneesme (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong it has been a long time since I read the series) except it is Stella vs. Dorothy who is guess what half-sisters. That's right folks. Fucking Adrian went for the half-sister after she died.
No offense to Stella I still love her, and it is not her fault with what happened. Nope, I am placing sole blame on Adrian (and I'm so mad I am ignoring my pet peeve of wondering if I spelled his name wrong. That jerk does not even deserve it.)
What is the equivalency to hell in the Philippines? Adrian deserves to rot in there for the shit that he does.
Okay, I swear I am done. I loved the history of the Phillippines, and that is what attracted me to the story in the first place. Plus, the cover is gorgeous, and I want to marry that cover.
The ending not at all.
3/5 stars.
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