Jess Peters's Blog, page 35

The Lion of Ackbarr (The Medici Chronicles Book 1) by Erme Lander

This is the first book in the Medici Chronicles.

It follows 15 year old Mika who is married off to a traders son from another country, despite her family mourning the recent disappearance of her twin brother, Kaylan. She struggles to adapt to the new ways expected of her, until she wakes one day to find her new family all dead around her.

Mika escapes and disguises herself to travel to Ackbarr. She becomes a Medici apprentice whilst struggling to deal with her strange changing as she attempts to find her brother.

This book was good and I did enjoy it. The storyline was interesting and it developed well.

I liked Mika. She starts of so vulnerable at the beginning but after what happened with her new ‘family’, she slowly develops into a strong individual. This is partly due to her having to pretend to be a boy. She has to learn to fit in as one, but also, she learns more about herself and her family heritage.

My only issue with this book was that at times, I felt the pace moved a bit slow. It needed a little bit more action, probably a little bit more Shape-shifting action. It wasn’t until the last third that events really started to pick up. The good storyline and the fact it was well written kept me interested though.

Overall, I did like this book. It had a good story with good characters and an interesting concept. I would recommend giving it a go.

My rating: 4/5*

The Girl In The Storm (Paradigm Trilogy Book 2) by Ceri A. Lowe

This book is the second in the Paradigm series.

It follows Carter and Alice, 90 years apart on separate journeys but aiming for the same thing: a better world.

Alice has never felt easy with Paradigm Industries’ plans for the future. Determined to investigate their secrets, she makes a shocking discovery: disturbing experiments on how to create life itself are taking place in underground laboratories, establishing a new order for society that will impact generations to come.

Carter is continuing on his journey to discover the truth about The Community and hopefully change things.

This book was brilliant. I absolutely love the split storyline once again and how they link together. Again, I was more inclined towards Carter’s story, until the end where Alice’s really hit another level. Both characters storys are needed in order for the full storyline to work and both are good and well written.

It was nice and fast paced throughout and both storylines developed brilliantly. I found it really clever how both of them link together. The ending was great. I kind of saw it coming in the last third of the book, but it was still brilliant.

I love the characters. Alice is a brilliant character. She’s a strong individual and wants to make an honest world which is better than before.

I absolutely love Carter and he is by far my favourite character. He wants the same thing, but has found out that the Industry is not all that it claims to be.

Shocking secrets are found out throughout in both storylines.

After reading the ending of this book, I’m really looking forward to what happens next with these characters.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It was just brilliant.

My rating : 5/5*

Queen (The Blackcoat Rebellion, Book 3) by Aimée Carter

This was the third and final book in The Blackcoat Rebellion series.

Kitty has helped take over the prison of Elsewhere, but Daxton has no intention of letting her and the Blackcoats win this war. She must expose the truth about him being an imposter of the real Daxton before any more damage is done. But that is easier said than done. She must become a piece in the game in order to truly win.

This book was really enjoyable and I found it to be a good ending to the series. I liked the references to a game, specifically chess. It was very fitting to the titles as well as the storyline.

It was fast paced and the plot progressed well and swiftly. There was alot of twists in it. Just when you think that was it and she was about to win, something else happened. There was no lack for action.

Kitty has truly found herself within this book. She has decided and accepted where she stands in this war. She’s become a strong and brave character in comparison to the beginning.

I really like Knox. He started to trust her in this book, but still kept caring for her as well. He wanted to protect her, but also had no issues sacrificing for the greater good. I was glad to see Kitty finally admit her feelings for him.

Overall, this book was great. It was fast paced and had a great storyline with great characters. There was plenty of tension reading this book, especially when events happened without us fully knowing the consequences or outcomes.  We saw everything from Kitty’s point of view and only found things out when she did.

The ending was a good, nice, satisfying end to the trilogy. I would definitely reading this series. It definitely needs to be read in order.

My rating: 5/5*

Captive (The Blackcoat Rebellion, Book 2) by Aimée Carter

This book is the second one in The Blackcoat Rebellion series.

Kitty has agreed to be Lila Hart and has carried out her role for Knox and the rebellion. She is struggling to trust Knox and she is being kept in the dark about almost everything. When she is in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she’s accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere.

This book was just as good at the first one. It continued to flow at a fast pace and once again, the storyline developed well.

There were many twists in this book which I thought was great. I didn’t see most of them coming which made this book all the more exciting.

I still like the characters. Kitty has continued to be great. In this book she really learnt what she has to loose and whether the rebellion is worth paying the ultimate price. Knox made me frustrated at times. I do think he needs a slap and to see how and what Kitty is willing to do and has done. At the end of the day, he has kept his promise to her which I admired and he did at one point thank her, but there are some trust issues on both sides because them both keeping secrets.

Benjy once again is still acting like the love sick puppy. Near the end of this book, I did feel there was an improvement, but I just feel like he needs to stand up and either be part of the rebellion or let Kitty go and be part of it. I think there is just more of a connection between her and Knox no matter what tension is going on between them.

This book had me gripped throughout and the twists which were gradually uncovered kept me wanting to read more.

I would definitely recommend this series. Its exciting, full of action, the descriptions are great and the characters are engaging.

My rating: 5/5*

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion, Book 1) by Aimée Carter

In Washington, DC, seventy years after democracy has fallen, the number you’re assigned by the government decrees your fate.

Seventeen-year-old orphan Kitty Doe is stuck as a III, looked down upon by the higher ranks. Until a chance encounter gives her the opportunity to become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

She is forced to take up Lila Hart’s identity, the Prime Minister’s neice who has died. Living this new role, she is loved and admired by all, but being this famous also means finding out dark secrets. Dark secrets which can only cause trouble in a powerful family who do not fear blackmailing and threatening eachother.

This book is the first of the Blackcoat Rebellion series. I really enjoyed it and thought it was brilliant.

The storyline was great and the plot was fast paced. It developed well as the story progressed.

I liked how we were introduced to this new life and its secrets from Kitty’s point of view. When she was left in the dark, so was we, which made the story exciting. It was very well written.

I liked the characters and the world portrayed. The horrors of life for some people was really shown, especially with the Elsewhere.

Kitty was a great character. She starts of as the young girl who only wants to make her life better and survive, but after being practically blackmailed into her new role, she comes out a strong independent women who is able ti look oit for herself by the end of the book.

I liked Knox. He came across very mysterious at times, but very likeable. He wants to protect the ones he cares about. Pretending that Kitty is Lila, his wife to be,is no easy task to keep up akd convince everyone of, but he soon cares for her in a genuine way.

Benjy was an okay character, but he did come across as a lovesick puppy at times. I did feel that he needed to ‘man up’ a little bit, but he was by no means a bad character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next in the series. It was very well written, engaging, exciting and with good characters. I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 5/5*

 

 

The Watcher Wars: (The Seekers Trilogy) by T. C Edge

This book is the first book in The Seekers Trilogy and the 4th in The Watchers series.

It follows Theo and Ajax, the kids of Cyra and Jackson and Link and Ellie from The Watchers series. They want to develop their powers and be admired for who they are, not who their parents are.

When an attack happens, Theo and Ajax find themselves in Edan with their family and their Grandfather who urges them to develop their powers and enter The Watcher Wars. Someone is taking out those involved in the war 20 years ago, and the two young men are about to find themselves right in the centre of the action.

I enjoyed this book. It was well paced, had a good storyline and I liked the characters.

It was nice seeing how things have changed in 20 years, and what hasn’t changed. I liked seeing our previous characters, but it was also good to have the storyline based on their kids, Theo and Ajax.

It was a little bit slow going at times, and in general, slower than the previous books in The Watchers series. The pace was still good enough and there was plenty of excitement and action in the book and Theo and Ajax did go on their own adventure. I get the impression that this book was setting up for the next one.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I like going back and seeing what has happened after the series has essentially ended. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

This book does need to be read as the 4th book in The Watchers series to fully understand the world, the characters and the war which has happened.

My rating: 4/5*

The Rising Storm (Paradigm Trilogy Book 1) by Ceri A. Lowe

This book is the first of the Paradigm series. It follows two people in different timelines. Alice in the past who experiences and lives through the tragic storms which change life as they know it, and Carter who wakes up after many years frozen in the Catacombs. His plan is to become Controller General, however things are never that simple.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and the story developed really well throughout. The two storys working together was clever and there were links between them which slowly developed as the story progressed. The ending was just brilliant.

I liked both characters. Alice develops in to the brave leader from the young, vulnerable little girl who was left on her own when we first met her. Carter also developed throughout the book. He wanted what was best for the people and to become the leader he was raised to be. His circumstances change through the book as he finds out secrets which he didn’t know before.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing how each story develops further.

Carters story was definitely the better and main story for me, especially being in present time, however I did still enjoy Alice’s story from the past. It was very relevant and complimented Carter’s brilliantly. Either one on their own wouldn’t have made the book as good as it was. I’m hoping the double storyline continues in the next.

I would definitely recommend this series. I found it different to other books, but still exciting to read.

My rating: 5/5*

PALINGENESIS by Helena Doherty

In the distant future, Earth, now Sanctuary 5, has fallen to environmental and economic ruin. To maintain their place amongst the galaxy’s top-tier planets, the de facto Government, The Keep, uses time as a tool to steal, spy and kill their way to profit. When The Device, their means of time travel, gets stolen and used to change history, it becomes a race against time to undo the ensuing paradox and save reality as they know it. Karna Arnu is on a quest to help recover it.

This book is imaginative and the story is action packed. In general, the storyline is good and well thought out.

I liked Karna. She comes across likable and is clearly good at her job. Edmund’s relationship wih her is good and it was nice to see it develop.

My problem with this book is that it just didn’t grab me like other books have. Although the story is generally good and I liked the characters, I felt it just needed that something more, and some more excitement. It’s by no means a bad book though.

I also had a problem with the beginning on each chapter. Even though the explanations of the past did add to the story, I just felt that some of them went on for too long which took me away from the present story. If they were shorter and a bit more to the point, my attention my have held for longer. This in turn would also shorten the chapter lengths. Personally, I did find some of the chapters too long.

Overall, this book may not have grabbed me or got my too excited, but it did however have a good storyline and there was action in it. If you like time travel with sci-fi aspects, then this book is for you.

My rating reflects that it just wasn’t for me but also reflecting that it is a good storyline and very imaginative.

My rating: 3/5*

AGELESS: (The Eerie Chronicles, Book 1) by S. Ghali

Evelyn Whitmore always knew that her extraordinary abilities of creating life from her skin and much more, will also be her undoing. She has lived with these abilities for almost 17 years, with no explanation as to why she has them.

A deadly curse had decided that she isn’t destined to fall in love at school, or help keep her best friend, April, in check. Unknowingly, Evelyn is the last of a long lineage of female Whitmores who mysteriously die on their seventeenth birthdays.

After she survives death and breaks the curse, she finds out that what comes next is going to be so much worse.

This book was really enjoyable to read. The first half of it is very much building the scene and the situation. Around halfway through, I found that the story pace really picked up.

The plot progressed well, and I did find that the whole story generally moved at a good pace, although the second half being notably quicker.

I liked the characters. I found Evelyn really engaging to read. I also liked April’s character. Kiera by far had the most character development through the book. I started off hating her and then near the end after understanding her more, started liking her. Gabe was also really good and likable.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The storyline and characters were great. I am definitely interested in reading the next book in the series and I would definitely recommend this book.

My rating: 5/5*

The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

This book is the 4th book in The Darkest Minds series, but essentially a series on its own as well.

It is from Zu’s point of view. 5 years after the events of the 3rd and previous book, things seem to be getting better, however, the fight is far from over for the psi to live freely and equally.

Zu has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of the kids once persecuted for their powers. Even though they are no longer imprisoned, the Psi still face huge prejudice, and a growing tide of misinformation. When Zu is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run in order to stay alive. She is determined to clear her name. On her journey she uncovers a truth that threatens all psi kids.

This book was brilliant. It was great to have it from Zu’s point of view. After so long with her not speaking in the previous books, it was great for her to have her own voice.

The storyline was great and I liked the aspect of having glimpse into the world 5 years later. Many book series end leaving the reader thinking, ‘what happens next and does the world change?’

Things really are not that much better and the more the plot progressed, the more we saw that it was far from what they even believed things were at.

The story was fast paced throughout. I liked the new characters introduced. Roman and Priya both had great personalities and their abilities made them unique. Max and Lana were also nice additions.

I loved seeing everyone back together in the end. Over 5 years, things had definitely changed but a friendship like they all had was always going to come first and win through everything they had all been through.

Overall, this book was brilliant. I would definitely recommend it. I would say that it definitely needs to be read as the 4th book in the series otherwise the characters and the state of the world wouldn’t really make sense.

My rating: 5/5*