Jess Peters's Blog, page 33

Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals by Bella Forrest

This is the 3rd book in the Harley Merlin series.

That’s what Harley desperately needs to find out before her unhinged aunt raises the death toll.

All she knows for sure is that magical kids are missing, and they somehow fit into Katherine Shipton’s grand scheme. Now that Harley is an official member of the San Diego Coven, she feels more responsible than ever for its protection—and that of the magical world.

But she’s got a whole lot more on her plate than that.

There’s a traitor lurking within the Coven. She still yearns to know the secrets contained within her parents’ Grimoire. And there’s also the fact that she might actually have feelings for a certain stubborn, green-eyed dude…

All the while, Santana faces her own demons, with a magical Purge building within her and a crush on a boy with a dark side, one that might just lead them to real answers.

This series is still my favourite by Bella Forrest after reading this book.

I absolutely love it. It moves at a great fast pace and is full of action. I love all the characters and love that we’re getting to know the other characters more with each book.

Harley is brilliant. She’s down to earth, and trying to get a hand of her powers. She wants to help those she loves and is always looking out for her friends. Her and Wade’s relationship is frustrating to read though. They both need to admit their feelings to eachother already.

This book also contained some chapters from Santana’s point of view. I really liked this, and enjoyed getting an insight to her powers. It was also interesting to learn more about Raffe from her point of view.

We finally got to see how insane Katherine truly is after hearing alot about her. I think she’s a good villain and I’m looking forward to the story progressing.

Overall, this series is simply brilliant. I’m looking forward to the next one. I’d definitely recommend it.

My rating: 5/5*

Update

Book reviews will slow down drastically this month due to me taking part in National Novel Writing Month which is taking up nearly all my spare time.

I’m writing book 2 of my series currently for it. It will be called Insurgence (The Bubo Series Book 2)

Book 1 will be free on various sites until the 1st December 2018 so take the opportunity to grab a copy or recommend it to a friend.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/894737

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-system-the-bubo-series-book-1

Barnes and Noble (NOOK book): https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-system-charles-peters/1012734835?ean=2940155810520

ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-system-the-bubo-series-book-1/id1436275512?mt=11

 

It would be amazing if you could leave a revew on the relevant site or Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39271666-the-system

 

It is currently not free on Amazon, but at 99p/99€/99$.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFHC23M

Check out you’re local store for other Amazon links.

Thanks!

The Source (The Advent Trilogy book 2) by Terry Schott

This is the second book in the Advent Trilogy.

This book tells a backstory of Alex and Gudrun and their familes. It also follows many other characters who we met in the first book, but in the ‘real world’

I really enjoyed this book. I think due to the revelations from the first book, this one ended up being better.

It moved at a good pace, had a brilliant storyline and the plot developed well.

I like the characters. Having a backstory on them gave a whole new perspective. Alex and Gudrun are great and it was really nice to see how their relationship started. We know that they were powerful families, so it was also nice to see why and get an insight into that.

The ending, once again, had a massive surprise. I didn’t see that one coming at all. It definitely made the book more exciting and has left me wanting to know what happens next.

Terry Schott would leave anyone questioning their existence and whether it was even real. This series definitely sparks up some thoughts in the same way his The Game Is Life series does.

Overall, this book is a brilliant continuation to the first. It had twists and turns throughout, had a great storyline, great characters and it moved at a great pace. I would definitely recommend reading this series.

My rating: 5/5*

The Legacy Human (Singularity Series Book 1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

This book is the first book of the series.

What would you give to live forever? Seventeen-year-old Elijah Brighton wants to become an ascender—a post-Singularity human/machine hybrid—after all, they’re smarter, more enlightened, more compassionate, and above all, achingly beautiful. But Eli is a legacy human, preserved and cherished for his unaltered genetic code, just like the rainforest he paints.

When a fugue state possesses him and creates great art, Eli miraculously lands a sponsor for the creative Olympics. If he could just master the fugue, he could take the gold and win the right to ascend, bringing everything he’s yearned for within reach… including his beautiful ascender patron. But once Eli arrives at the Games, he finds the ascenders are playing games of their own. Everything he knows about the ascenders and the legacies they keep starts to unravel… until he’s running for his life and wondering who he truly is.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different with a unique storyline. It moved at a good steady pace and the plot developed well.

I liked the characters. Eli was great. All he wanted was to save his mum which was so admiring to read. He was willing to do anything for her life. I think he was a little bit ignorant to the competition to start with, but he knew what he needed to do and he worked hard to make it happen.

Cyrus was also a great character. I think Eli would have been lost without him and ultimately, it is Cyrus who helps him with the competition. Both of them worked well together and it was nice learning about their friendship. They truly are more brothers to eachother.

I think there is more to Lenora that meets the eye. I’m looking forward to hopefully finding out more about her as the books go on.

The storyline was brilliant. I felt the concept was unique which made it even more enjoyable to read. The acsenders were well thought out.

I think the added storyline with the girls, Batha, Kamali and Delphina made the storyline more exciting. They were good additional characters. The situation that Eli has found himself in has led on to the next book well.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The great characters and plot have definitely left me wanting to read the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 5/5*

The Death Messenger by Henry Taba

Westcliffe Patel is in his early thirties, living alone with a decent job in a small town. When he just began to have a glimpse of joy, he has a car accident. And thereafter, a whisper of sinister voice haunted him—telling him a message. Assuming it is just an illusion or the effect from the accident, he continues his accustomed life. But when the ominous message is confirmed by the death of his friend—the unexplained death mystery quickly clings to his mind…

Besides, the death has confirmed his imaginary demon which he thought ain’t real. He soon receives the death message of his girlfriend, he has no choice but just to dive deeper to investigate before he could avert his girlfriend from becoming a victim. How can Westcliffe stop the demon when he has never met it? Consequently, his life is never the same again.

This book has a good, enjoyable storyline, it moved at a nice steady pace and had good characters.

I enjoyed reading it. The storyline was well thought out and I liked the idea of the death messenger and the demon.

Westcliffe was a great character. It was great reading his story from the start being a normal guy, then metting Adel and falling in live to then being thrown in this world of death and demons. He cared for those he loves and his friends. He started to put his life on the line for people he barely knew.

Benson and Mary were also great characters. I particularly liked Mary. Her story was a sad one, and even more so after reading the last chapter.

The ending was however, satisfying in one aspect, with Jacob, but then with Adel at the end… Lets just say I’m interested in finding out what happens next.

I did spot a few minor mistakes, which for me, didnt affect the book too much. I did however, not like the bold lines which were scattered throughout. What they were trying to get across could have been written a little bit better without making the lines stand out lime they did. I felt it was unnecessary.

Overall, the story was enjoyable and had a good plot, the characters were great and it leaves you wanting to know what happens next. I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 4/5*

The Endless Knight (The Seekers Trilogy book 3) by T. C. Edge

This book is the 3rd and final book in The Seekers Trilogy and the 6th book in The Watchers series.

No one saw the destruction of the great sea city coming. No one expected the Baron to strike right at their heart. But now, gathering back in the city of stone, the survivors have no choice but to go to war.

From Petram, plans are made as the regions are engulfed in conflict. For many, all this seems familiar, the world once more falling into turmoil. For Theo, Ajax, and the twins, however, it’s like nothing they’ve ever experienced.

Soon, they’ll all realise that the Baron is yet to play his final hand. And when he does, they’ll be in a fight against time to stop the whole world from falling into darkness.

The whole series has been great to read. I’ve enjoyed going back into the world where there are Watchers, and especially with 20 years between the 2 trilogies.

This book was a great end to The Seekers Trilogy. It was fast paced with plenty of action and the plot continued to develop well. I enjoyed the ending. It was a satisfying one.

Theo has been a great character. He has come a long way from the start and really has become a man and a valued, powerful watcher. Ajax has been the same. It’s been good reading their friendship develop and become stronger after all they have gone through. I liked seeing their relationships with the twins grow. They all have gained a good relationship from the experiences they have been through together.

I’ve really enjoyed reading Cyra, Jackson, Ellie and Link again. It’s been good to see how they have moved on and changed in the years between The Watchers Trilogy. Seeing them turn into parents has been nice to read. It’s also been nice seeing the changes in the other characters such as Drake and Athena.

I am glad the point of view has been from Theo. I think it was important to have it based from a new younger character. It wouldn’t have been the same telling the story from Cyra again.

The villains behind the story were good, the clones and Baron. It made for an exciting storyline which kept developing as the books moved forward, without repeating the from The Watchers Trilogy. There were plenty of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. The hero at the end was also nice, though I did kind of see that one coming as well as hoped for it to happen.

Overall, this whole series has been brilliant to read. All the books are fast paced and the storylines develop well. All the characters are great.

I wouldn’t definitely recommend this series. It needs to be read from the beginning with The Watchers Trilogy  before The Seekers Trilogy.

My rating: 5/5*

 

The Seekers Of Knight (The Seekers Trilogy book 2) by T. C. Edge

This is the second book in The Seekers Trilogy  and essentially, the 5th book in The Watchers series.

Theo, Ajax, and the twins have managed to escape the destruction of Baron Reinhold’s compound. They’ve done so by defeating the powerful Knight’s Terror in the process, and have escaped with the secret file that might just give them the answers they’re looking for.

Together, the two generations of heroes will come together against a foe greater than any they’ve faced before. And with their resources dwindling, and their enemies closing in, the odds seem stacked against them.

For Theo, it’s time to step up. To step out of the shadows cast by his parents, and join them in the light. The only question is: is he up to the task?

I really enjoyed this book and found is better than the first. It moved at a good fast, exciting pace, the storyline was great and the characters have continued to be good.

Theo and Ajax have started to come into their own in this book and have significantly stepped up to the tasks they are faced with. They are definitely trying to be noticed for who they are, and not who their parents are. They also want to contribute helping the problems they face.

I also loved the fact that Cyra and Jackson had a big input in this book. I think that them being part of the storyline has made all the difference and especially for Theo and Ajax to see their parents truly in action.

The storyline was great and the plot developed well. There was plenty of action right from the start. It also definitely had a dramatic ending.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how the series will conclude in the next book. Overall, I would definitely recommend it. I would say that it needs to be read in order, starting with The Watchers series.

My rating : 5/5*

The Ward (The Advent Trilogy book 1) by Terry Schott

This is the first book in Terry Schott’s new series, The Advent Trilogy.

Alex Wolfson. Legendary titan of business and industry around the globe. Said to possess a net worth greater than the twenty wealthiest countries in the world. It is rumoured that his control over world leaders and governments is absolute. An icon of his age, a name known to all. Yet no one has ever seen his face, or heard his voice.

I’m a big fan of Terry Schott’s works and writing style and this book was no different. It has the same feel as his ‘The Game Is Life’ series.

This book was great. It moved at a good pace and I liked the characters and the plot. There was a good amount of character development within the development of the plot as well.

It follows a few characters working for Alex Wolfson and even some working against him. They were all good and contributed to the story well. Ultimately, Alex is the main character in the story. He is incredibly mysterious and sly. Luckily, many answers were answered at the end

I would say, as with most of Terry Schott’s books, that it doesn’t always make 100% sense until the end. The story is great, but as you progress through, it can leave you thinking as to where is this heading, and then right at the end, all is revealed before ending on a bit of a cliffhanger. It works well and does leave you wanting to read more.

I would definitely recommend this series, especially if you have read and liked ‘The Game is Life’ series. If you have never read it or even heard, I would still recommend giving it a go. The writing style and storytelling is just great. It leaves you wanting to know more at the end. I’m really looking forward to the next one in the series.

My rating: 5/5*

The King’s Gambit (The Vault Guardian book 1) by Thom L. Matthews

This is the first book in The Vault Guardian series.

It has been centuries since Earth’s societies crumbled, leaving the planet a nearly barren wasteland. Since then, the remnants of humanity have slowly rebuilt isolated civilizations with new cultures and ideas, all seemingly unaware of how the world ended. It is a world ravaged by war, illness, and famine. To Benedict Limmetrad, the outcast son of Freztad’s former chief, that world is about to get much bigger.

When the mysterious forces of a faraway land capture a beloved member of his village, Ben embarks on a quest to bring her home-only to discover that the world is far more dangerous and mysterious than he had once thought. His journey proves perilous, and he is faced with death and danger at every turn. Throughout his quest, Ben’s values and sense of self are pushed to the limits as he uncovers the secrets of the world, its past, and himself.

I enjoyed this book. It moved at a good pace, the storyline was good and I liked the characters.

Ben was great. He was down to earth, strong, brave and loyal to his friends and to finding Rose. I liked his personal development throughout. He learnt more and more about himself, his background and his family as the story moved forward which was enjoyable to read.

The other characters introduced throughout were also good. They each contributed to the story.

My only issue was that the beginning was a bit slow for me. The first chapter, although being a nice opening to the story, did leave totally confused and it didn’t make complete sense to me until later on in the book. It did just take me a little while to get going with the story. Once the pace and plot picked up which was at around 20% for me, I enjoyed it.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book and a great start to the series. I would be intrigued to see where the plot will move to next. I would definitely recommend it as the characters were good with a great storyline.

My rating: 4/5*

Harley Merlin And The Mystery Twins by Bella Forrest

This book is the second in the Harley Merlin series.

Harley Merlin has a lot of unanswered questions in her life. What drove her father to kill her mother? How can she know the true extent of her magical abilities? Has Wade Crowley always been this annoying?

After the violent gargoyle incident that left many dead, Harley fears what other evil tricks her psychotic aunt has up her sleeve. When she discovers that magical foster kids like herself are in danger, she knows she must do whatever it takes to protect them.

And it turns out that Tatyana, the Coven’s resident ghost-whisperer, is also willing to make sacrifices and has secrets of her own.

I absolutely loved this book. The storyline is simply fantastic. It is past moving, exciting, develips well and with great characters.

This book was from Harley’s point if view as well as having an insight from Tatyana’s point of view. As much as the series is about Harley, having Tatyana’s input worked really well.

Harley is a brilliant character. She is strong and brave, but also very down to earth. She is continuing to develop witch and is still in the learning process within the Coven. We, as readers, are learning the ways and secrets of the Coven as Harley which is enjoyable.

Tatyana is similar in that she is strong and brave. Her magical power makes her different and interesting to read things and events from her point of view.

I also like Wade. He is arrogant and proud, but his soft spot came out at certain times in this book. Harley and him have a fair bit of bickering throughout. After the ending, I am looking forward to seeing how his character develops in the next book and how his relationship with Harley’s will move forward.

All the other surrounding characters were great additions and all equally valuable to the ‘Rag Team’, and to the storyline. We are gradually learning more and more about them and their backgrounds.

The storyline was great and expanded on the previous book. The twins plot definitely added to the overall one and I’m really looking forward to seeing where it goes next.

Overall, this series has swiftly become one of my favourite and this book only enforced that for me. The storyline is brilliant, the characters are great and engaging and the concept and background are interesting. I didn’t want the book to end. I would definitely recommend this series.

My rating: 5/5*