This was a SUPER inventive and dark world-building novel. Definitely epic fantasy leaning, meaty and engrossing about Heaven and Hell and demon battli...moreThis was a SUPER inventive and dark world-building novel. Definitely epic fantasy leaning, meaty and engrossing about Heaven and Hell and demon battling and love. I really enjoyed it, and the fact it was a first novel was even cooler, and it felt much meatier than the relatively short 300 pages, which is interesting.
There are some GREAT characters and relationships (and a LOT of drama) that keep you page-turning. Recommended to CS Friedman fans, or Sarah Monette fans.(less)
I really REALLY liked this book. It's kind of a perfect Vaginal Fantasy book. It mixes fantasy with romance in a really interesting way, and I loved h...moreI really REALLY liked this book. It's kind of a perfect Vaginal Fantasy book. It mixes fantasy with romance in a really interesting way, and I loved how Elves weren't all delicate and nice, they were kind of bastards.
The romance is good, the ending is the ONLY thing I thought was a bit weird, but considering she's setting up a series I'll cut her some slack. Overall a really fun read!(less)
**spoiler alert** OKAY listen, this book caught my eye hard, and I really thought the premise was interesting (Fey power + Jane Eyre). There were some...more**spoiler alert** OKAY listen, this book caught my eye hard, and I really thought the premise was interesting (Fey power + Jane Eyre). There were some cool things, and I 100% enjoyed the first half of the book. And then....
SPOILERS:
WE GET TO THE FACE PEELING. I COULDNT DEAL GUYS, GROSS! It turned into a bad reality show about plastic surgery gone wrong, OMG I was so grossed out by the ending. ANYWHOO...if you like horror you might dig this book, it's just VERY different from what I thought it was going in.
This is a weird book that some people may not like, but I REALLY liked it, so there. It's not romance-y, it's steampunk/religious/thriller/alt-verse/f...moreThis is a weird book that some people may not like, but I REALLY liked it, so there. It's not romance-y, it's steampunk/religious/thriller/alt-verse/fantasy. It's gritty and a bit complicated but I enjoyed it a LOT because it was DIFFERENT.
I love the idea of Living/Dead Gods (PC HODGELL'S GOD STALK is one of my faves) and this book really is intriguing in its dealing of the subject, and immense magical power harnessed by humans. I dunno, I just really liked it, the lead woman was ruthless and driven, which I was into, and not overly "sympathetic".
I think the only negative I could see is the sense of PLACE was vague for me, I didn't feel like I understood how the city looked and felt. Everything else was stellar. Definitely on board for another!(less)
I would LOVE to give this 3 1/2 stars but I can't here, so I'm giving it 3. As a first book I liked it, and will definitely try out the next one. This...moreI would LOVE to give this 3 1/2 stars but I can't here, so I'm giving it 3. As a first book I liked it, and will definitely try out the next one. This is steampunk alt-reality mixed with vampires, and I randomly picked it up not knowing what was going on at all, which was kind of fun.
I liked the world-building, but it was WAY too repetitive for the first third of the book especially. I think the author needed to trust her world was being set up well without having to remind the audience all the time, some editing could have def helped that part.
After that first half though, I really loved where the characters went with the FAMILY part, those relationships were really awesome and clear and I was invested in them. I guess my biggest problem with the book was that the love interest was kind of 2-dimensional, he was really perfect the whole time and I felt like there needed to be a bit of a twist there to make it more interesting/more conflict. I mean, he's the KING OF THE WEREWOLVES, and he was just kind of a Murray-Sue (Is that what they're called? haha). I think maybe a big twist will be in book two with them? I hope so! But I think this is good for fans of Gail Carriger's series for sure.
It's hard to put a category on this, it's kind of steampunk/high fantasy? At any rate, it was a PLEASURE to go into this hybrid-world again. I love th...moreIt's hard to put a category on this, it's kind of steampunk/high fantasy? At any rate, it was a PLEASURE to go into this hybrid-world again. I love the characters, and the author puts them through their paces for sure, but there are enough ups and downs to really be engrossed, I literally had to read this book in one night. Very interesting upheaval happens to set up for a next book, and a VERY interesting character twist leaves you really wondering how the main characters are gonna get through THAT in #4! Def would recommend as a light alternative to heavy epic fantasy readers who like a strong female protagonist!(less)
I really liked the first in this series and I really enjoyed the second as well. There are some jokey things with the naming I could have done without...moreI really liked the first in this series and I really enjoyed the second as well. There are some jokey things with the naming I could have done without, but overall I got caught up in the characters a LOT, even moreso than the last installment. I really like how romance cliches aren't followed in this book, and it's really more of an adventure novel with some romance thrown in. I love the female lead is tough without TRYING too hard, I loved her old flame coming in, not cackling like a bad guy, but being a genuinely interesting character. The overall plot was interesting, and the steampunk stuff continues to be super fun and well thought-out. I usually hate children in books like this because they're just WAYYYY too adorable, but these kids didn't make me crazy like they usually do (although Ilona Andrews has YET to be topped in the cool kid department with her Edge series. Love those kids).
Anyhoo, definitely a good read for people who like steampunk and mysteries and period pieces, guy or girl!(less)
So...I have mixed thoughts about this trilogy, not the least of which it's kind of hard to take seriously a world where hot men are controlled by peni...moreSo...I have mixed thoughts about this trilogy, not the least of which it's kind of hard to take seriously a world where hot men are controlled by penis rings. BUT...I still like it. This trilogy seems to me to be the ultimate teenage girl's fantasy. Everything is about this main character and her growing up to be the savior of the world, all the men are safe and doting (controlled by penis rings if they're super hot, lol), older women are the ones who are evil and jealous and want to control the young girl, etc etc. I mean, I REALLY like the books but yeah, there's some psychology going on here that a more penetrative mind could glean a lot from. THAT SAID I loved the first book, I felt like the mystery of the main character was a BIT infantilized in this one, she seemed way more "kiddie" towards the last half of the book, but it's a great continuation that lightens the world somewhat from the VERY dark first one, and I enjoyed it no less.
OK! Trilogy done, really satisfying! Def one of my favorite female-centered thick-tomed fantasy series. I really enjoyed the growth of the main charac...moreOK! Trilogy done, really satisfying! Def one of my favorite female-centered thick-tomed fantasy series. I really enjoyed the growth of the main character in this book, and the agony and tension between the main character and the love interest was great...to a point (see below)
SPOILERS: I had a FEW quibbles along the way, namely: -Why, if everyone is SO UBER with magic and detection was the spy allowed to stay in the house to try to kidnap her sister? Why did she let her family stay so long AT ALL?!?! I woulda kicked them to the curb after a day!
-Let's be honest, after about 1200 pages in the trilogy, THAT WAS THE CONSUMMATION SCENE?!?! I mean...after penis rings controlling for CENTURIES I really feel like we shoulda had MORE DETAIL and MORE SEXY SCENES. UGH. So PG-13. So frustrated. :(
Anyway, Loved it. Def would read more in the universe!(less)
Sooo I am between 3 and 4 stars for this book. On the one hand the cover is AMAZEBALLS, I love chicks who can burn things, and I love Victoriana/Histo...moreSooo I am between 3 and 4 stars for this book. On the one hand the cover is AMAZEBALLS, I love chicks who can burn things, and I love Victoriana/Historical Romance, I love grand conspiracy theories, yeah, there's a lot to like here. It felt like this was a first novel to me? So the characters were good but a bit shaky, and the world building was ALMOST there. Yeah, that's why it tipped over to 3 stars, even though there were plenty of 4 star qualities for sure.
I was irritated by one thing SUPER IRRITATED:
SPOILER: WTF she was an amazing swordsman when she was a kid, then it disappeared for 85% of the book, ONLY TO COME BACK AT THE END CONVENIENTLY?!?! I mean...yeah. That part irritated me.
END SPOILER/
I'm torn, because this was enjoyable. I feel like the author has the roots of something really good though, so I'm gonna pick up the next one for sure.(less)
I love this author but didn't really love this book that much, I dunno. It's so similar to a few other books I've loved (see my review of Master of Cr...moreI love this author but didn't really love this book that much, I dunno. It's so similar to a few other books I've loved (see my review of Master of Crows http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) , that it just wasn't at the top of the heap of books like this I've read. Oh wellz. The cover is hilarious though, BARNEY WITH ABSSSSSSSS(less)
OK! So I'm giving this 5 stars even though it should be 4 for the following reasons: the first 20% is a little slow, and the last chapter is kinda wei...moreOK! So I'm giving this 5 stars even though it should be 4 for the following reasons: the first 20% is a little slow, and the last chapter is kinda weirdly put together. BUT I will say I LOVED THIS and it's only 2.99 self-published, I picked it up randomly, so my expectations weren't that high and I was forced to obsessively read this so wow, pardon me while I add an extra star for those reasons! :D
This is a VERY SIMILAR book plot-wise to one of my VERY favorite books, Darkangel by Meredith Pierce: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92... (Which is still one of my fave all-time, more YA leaning than this though, so this is kinda the sexy-time version of that)
And it's pretty much the same-ish plot as a recent book by Nalini Singh "Lord of the Abyss": http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10... Which I didn't enjoy that much (3 stars pretty much).
Girl who is plain and unconfident is apprenticed/enslaved to a powerful, dangerous and outcast uber-dude who falls for him against all sense. OK so I love this plot so I was already a sucker for it, and I loved the way it played out in this book! There was interesting world-building, there were GREAT characters (which is the most important thing). I dunno, I was so surprised that I loved this so much and bravo for it getting out there, and WOW there were yummy scenes everywhere and I kind of loved the main heroine a ton. SOOO I'd say if you want a great vaginal fantasy try it out!!! WOOT
So I enjoyed this book, but didn't LOVE it. Poison Study (by this author) is one of my ALL TIME FAVES so I can't help compare all her other heroines t...moreSo I enjoyed this book, but didn't LOVE it. Poison Study (by this author) is one of my ALL TIME FAVES so I can't help compare all her other heroines to that one, and no one ever lives up to her 100%. I enjoyed the magic worldbuilding, for some reason I just felt one step ahead of the characters frequently. I didn't 100% feel the attraction between the two main characters either, so maybe that made me a bit less invested. I enjoyed the heroine's POV though, and am interested to see the second in the series. Felt a bit young adult-ish in tone, so it would be good for teen readers.(less)
Guys, this is 100% vaginal fantasy, and I enjoyed it. There were things I DID NOT enjoy about it, that take the stars down, but honestly I'm picking u...moreGuys, this is 100% vaginal fantasy, and I enjoyed it. There were things I DID NOT enjoy about it, that take the stars down, but honestly I'm picking up the next book, so clearly I liked it and feel like this series can only get better.
I think my favorite thing was all the hugging. I seriously noticed I felt happy when the Dragon dude hugged the "so helpless I want to kick her" heroine. It's something that isn't in a lot of romance, that sort of casual affection between two people, and I really thought it was sweet and endearing. The world building in this is spotty, and the plotting uneven, I get it. The thousands of years old dragon talks completely inconsistently, sometimes very formally and sometimes like a dude you'd meet in a coffeeshop. There are corny bits. BUT the tone got way better the farther in the book it went. The main hero dude is a serious Cro-Magnon He-Man dude, but sometimes the heroine literally called it out spot-on, and it amused me to no end. I love how the author basically is telling the audience, yes this is seriously not PC to have a dude this controlling and chauvanist and jealous, but I'm writing this book about it anyway, because some base thing is going on here and I'm embracing it. I dunno, but despite its flaws I found the book refreshing.
Lots of naughty scenes, very RRRRRRR rated btw. BE WARNED A DRAGON WILL COPULATE!(less)
Yay! Another Heroes book! If you've read my other reviews, I have just ADORED this series, it's a light fantasy romp that has two engaging main charac...moreYay! Another Heroes book! If you've read my other reviews, I have just ADORED this series, it's a light fantasy romp that has two engaging main characters and really fun magical world. I guess I could review the book (which I enjoyed A LOT) but mainly I wanted to list this for the author's blog post here: http://moiraj.livejournal.com/125218....
Basically her publisher has decided not to publish the next book, THE LAST in the series! Um, 14 years of work on the series and they declined to have her finish? That's just...well, sad to say the least. I for one hope that Moira decides to self-publish if there is no other way, because I would be first in line to see the series wrap up. I've personally, as a fan, invested a lot in the series, bought every book, spent hours enjoying the series, and to not have it wrapped up in my own imagination would be quite disappointing. To know that it's in her mind, even on paper, and could possibly never be released...say it ain't so!
We're in a world where creators don't need the gatekeeper's help to find their audience, Moira please finish the book and release it! :)(less)
I don't have much to say about this, but felt compelled to add it to the stack for completionist sake. I am just so confused about where this series i...moreI don't have much to say about this, but felt compelled to add it to the stack for completionist sake. I am just so confused about where this series is going, I thought Cast in Silence was pretty good, and the first couple were just BRILLIANT, but I dunno. And Kaylin continues to be soooo emotionally messed up, I just want her to grow a bit (and get with Nightshade, but looking at this book it doesn't look good.)
Soo I kinda wanted to give this 4 stars, but I'm struggling because the ENDING was really nice, but it was SO HARD to start the book, the first 1/4th...moreSoo I kinda wanted to give this 4 stars, but I'm struggling because the ENDING was really nice, but it was SO HARD to start the book, the first 1/4th was almost making me give up because of structure stuff. Part of that is because it has been a while since I read the first in this series, so I guess there's that, but I consider it part of the author's job to give a recap, or at least write a BIT of refresher for people who liked the previous book but don't wanna go back and read the whole thing.
If you are familiar with the world, it's a re-imagining of the era of Charlotte Bronte, or Jane Austen, but with magic. I really like the concept even more than execution, but I will admit this second book felt way better paced and better laid out than the first. I LOVE the house and uncovering all the secrets. This is a DENSE read but after initial bumps I really enjoyed.
My problem I guess was that in the beginning it's hard to understand why the book is done from different people's POVs (same problem I had with the first one). I wish the characters had interacted more together to kind of justify why we were following them so disparately, and when it finally adds up WAY into the book, that's when things pay off, but it feels too late to me.
SLIGHT SPOILER: I also don't quite understand the relationship between the main character and her husband and this unrequited love interest thing going on. It feels like the husband is gonna get killed off and the other two will end up together, but it's taking a long time, and the wife/husband duo relationship is not really getting fleshed out, so you don't really root for them to be together. I dunno.
Upshot, I will definitely read the next one because I felt this one improved on the world, and I love the main character and her sisters and wanna see where it goes!(less)
OKAY. So I read this author religiously, and was particularly excited about this book, the description was SUPER yummy. I enjoyed the book on several...moreOKAY. So I read this author religiously, and was particularly excited about this book, the description was SUPER yummy. I enjoyed the book on several levels, the setting was interesting, a classic fairy tale land. The heroine was a bit wallow-y for my taste but whatever. My primary problem was the following (and please say if you agree with me):
I swear to God, it's so WEIRD how this author's men are so emotionally retarded, and then she treats them SO BADLY. Having read like 15 books by her it's a crazy pattern I see, there is such a lack of tenderness, it always feels like the ladies are dealing with some wild animal that then turns on them.
I will always read her books, but it was just so weird to draw parallels between this hero and the one from the Dante Valentine series (who is AMAZING btw, one of my top heroes). I always just have the impulse to pull the dudes out of her book so they won't get abused, hahaha.
Anyway, maybe I'm crazy. I'll be picking up the next book in the duology when it comes out because she does have an awesome unique voice. (less)
This seriously wins terrible cover of the year. I am so confused about this shirtless guy who looks like he'd be mopping in a fast food restaurant and...moreThis seriously wins terrible cover of the year. I am so confused about this shirtless guy who looks like he'd be mopping in a fast food restaurant and he's holding a machete. So weird.
The BOOK however is really nice. Again, I love the lore of this steampunk world, it's the most interesting I've seen with the nanobot aspect and the Horde and the revisionist European history. This one had racy sexy scenes but it didn't seem to dominate as much as the last. I just loved the swashbuckley nature, and the romance was great, I'm a big fan! Except of the cover haha.(less)
Well, this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and I think my favorite of the three. In my other reviews you'll remember I definitely wasn't a...moreWell, this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and I think my favorite of the three. In my other reviews you'll remember I definitely wasn't as keen on this installment in the world, mostly because Bao as a hero was not very compelling, I just never saw why Moirin fell and/or fought so hard to be with him. In this last book though, there are very few twists and turns in their relationship, so he basically fades into the background and it becomes more about Moirin and her journey back to the capital and then to Terra Nova to save , which was way funner to follow.
To me, the first 1/4 of the book was a bit wheel spinny, but then it really got going, and was a REALLY fun ride. I mean there's some CRAZY crap that happens in the middle-end, like some 50's black and white pulp novel, or like a crazy island Tiki restaurant gone wild, and it's SO GOOD!
I read somewhere this is the last book in the world?! NOOOOOO! PLEASE WRITE MORE I BUY THEM ALL IN HARDBACK AND KINDLE BOTH! (less)
UUUUUUUUG I dunno. I LOVED the first one in this series, totally interesting steampunk-magic world, and I was so psyched to see this pop up on my Kind...moreUUUUUUUUG I dunno. I LOVED the first one in this series, totally interesting steampunk-magic world, and I was so psyched to see this pop up on my Kindle the other day, but something felt completely off for me in the first half of this book. Especially the first 50 pages, it was lot of confusing information that didn't really settle you back into the world that readers have been away from for a few years, it was like an info dump, and a bit of a scattered wonky political info dump at that. Maybe a prologue would have helped or something? Not sure.
THEN after the unbelievably interesting European setting in book 1, we somehow go to the Carribean for...I'm not sure why? Zombies and fire mages (that were so weak compared to the badass cold mages, what was with that?) I just felt like so much had been set up in the European area I was pouty while I read, "Why are we on a zombie island now?! I wanna go hoooooome!"
GOOD THINGS: Vai is, as always, a REALLY good character in himself with his bad-ass cold magic that's amazing, and there's a great romance here between him and the lead. The two lead girls have a really lovely devoted sister-like relationship that continued to feel fresh to me, and the last 80 pages or so were SO GOOD I wanted to read the next book IMMEDIATELY.
Soo...I dunno. If you read the first one 100% read this one because at the end it sets up for a great third book. I just had some reservations about stuff that happened plot-wise, that's all. But it was a fun romp at least.(less)
I enjoyed this book a lot, surprisingly, because I had no expectations and it's sat on my Kindle for a WHILE. I'm kinda OVER vampires, but this was a...moreI enjoyed this book a lot, surprisingly, because I had no expectations and it's sat on my Kindle for a WHILE. I'm kinda OVER vampires, but this was a really interesting interpretation, with alt-historical-European history thrown in (written to be young adult friendly). I liked the old-fashioned quality of the writing, it felt like an early 20th century book, a bit fairy tale-ish, simple but compelling. I definitely will enjoy reading the next. I think the cover art doesn't sell the book the way that it reads just for the record!(less)
As you may have seen, my review of "Native Star", the first book in this series, was a big rave, and the world-building here continued to shine in thi...moreAs you may have seen, my review of "Native Star", the first book in this series, was a big rave, and the world-building here continued to shine in this next book. Emily continues to be a wonderful heroine, and the story of her family and the secrets of her past were very engrossing and paid off very well. This is a great magical/steampunk/turn of the century world. I could definitely read lots of stories set in this alt-NYC. Very fun.
I guess I had a bit of a problem with the Big Bad of the plot being WAY "out there", compared to the previous book (it seemed like there needed to be more setup in #1 for a certain main character twist at the end of this one, I dunno). I wanted more Stanton in the first half of the book too, every scene Emily and Stanton had together I just LOVED, and I just wanted more of them working together.
I guess this would ideally be 3 1/2 stars, but I do have a soft spot for the main character that bumped it up. I just hope there's another book, because the ending was SO wrapped up, I dunno if there's room for more with these characters! At least give us NEW characters in the world, it's so fun!
I really enjoy this author's work! She's pretty much on my must-buy list for well-done, light fantasy with a bit of romance that's not too smutty (lik...moreI really enjoy this author's work! She's pretty much on my must-buy list for well-done, light fantasy with a bit of romance that's not too smutty (like Ilona Andrews) I think this series took a step up in world-building with this second episode, I was definitely interested in all the new stuff we learned through Merrick in particular. I loved seeing Sorcha and Raed's conflict, I just love them together! Only criticism is that it felt short, I feel like I wanted more plot to happen with the Grand Duchess, and the end twist? But really, it was fun and I can't wait for the next one! (less)
So there were many nice things in this book. The Austin-esque plot was interesting, and the main character and her relationship with her sister was la...moreSo there were many nice things in this book. The Austin-esque plot was interesting, and the main character and her relationship with her sister was layered, I really think the character was well-drawn and the best thing about the book. Her POV as the "plain" sister was written from a very real place.
I guess I just ached for a bit more complexity, with the plot (and romance) and the world-building. There's some VERY interesting magic conceits here, and I just wanted a bigger scope. I think the author could build upon this world for more and more interesting books. This one was a nice basic intro. I think the plot just needed more twists, and there needed to be MORE characters to act as red herrings to make the ending a bit more surprising.
I'm torn because I think this is probably a 4 star book, as I list it, but I didn't LOVE it as much as the first two in this trilogy. I don't know why...moreI'm torn because I think this is probably a 4 star book, as I list it, but I didn't LOVE it as much as the first two in this trilogy. I don't know why, maybe I just didn't love the characters as much, maybe the focus on the mortal people was not as interesting as how deep the relationships ran in the last two books. I almost wish this book had been about the three gods reuniting, but I dunno. Sieh is a fantastic character, and this was a really interesting direction to take him, I'm just on the fence because the first two books blew me away, and this one didn't as much. 100% will read anything this author writes though, so there's that :) (less)
Well, having drooled all over the first in this series, I didn't QUITE love it as much as the other, but the bar was set so high it would have been ex...moreWell, having drooled all over the first in this series, I didn't QUITE love it as much as the other, but the bar was set so high it would have been extremely hard to outdo my love for the first protagonist. I found myself feeling disloyal when I sided with this one occasionally, haha.
This book was very good though, I was definitely engrossed (except for a section where I got impatient with the character's plight, I don't want to spoil but I think anyone who reads will know what I'm referring to). The world was further filled out from the first book in interesting ways, and the ultimate twists in character were unexpected.
I think the biggest thing I liked about it was that it took the plot of the first novel, and twisted it to see from a differing characters POV. It was interesting to see events differently, and emphasized that there is no black and white, just gray subjectivity.
Well, I really loved this book. Not since I've read Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel series have I been as enamored, in fact they are very evocative of each...moreWell, I really loved this book. Not since I've read Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel series have I been as enamored, in fact they are very evocative of each other, these series.
I had no expectations of this book, in fact I've had an ARC copy by my bed for like a year and a half, and for some reason couldn't get myself to pick it up. I think the cover implies a more epic fantasy feel than it is, really it would appeal to most female-driven urban fantasy fans, but again, i guess it's smart not to slap a pretty girl on the cover and restrict yourself to just a female audience. Everyone can enjoy this book, the romantic arc is subtle and not cliched-ly prominent.
But basically, this is a lovely fantasy with a strong female protagonist. Yes, she doesn't remain assertive and plot-driving as she should, and really that should have taken a star off, but the contemplative nature of the world-building, and layered motivations and mysteries involving the ensemble overcame that for me. I really felt like it was smart and avoided cliches. And I was totally hooked when the ending paid off SO WELL!
Other series this is similar to are Sharon Shinn's Archangel series and Garth Nix's Sabriel.
Well, I love this series, so I was super psyched to read this one, and it didn't disappoint. I was actually relieved to see less teenagers in this one...moreWell, I love this series, so I was super psyched to read this one, and it didn't disappoint. I was actually relieved to see less teenagers in this one, there was way more of Raine's other relatives in here, and super great baddies, so it was a nice change of pace. And Mychael was yummy as ever, appreciate the fact that she didn't overdo the romancey things, there was juuuuust enough.
Setup for #6 is really good, I just want some more Tam in the next one and life will be UBER excellent!(less)
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