Christopher C. Payne's Blog, page 29

The Conspirator

 

 

The Conspirator

Directed by Robert Redford

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

 

The recently released historical drama, The Conspirator, deals with the events immediately following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  Seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice President, and

Secretary of State.  The woman, Mary Suratt (Robin Wright), is a southerner and the owner of a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and his colleagues meet and plan these attacks.   A 27-year-old Union war hero and unproven lawyer, Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy), reluctantly agrees to take up Suratt's case and defend her against the highly prejudiced and revenge-hungry United States government.  Aiken is almost as certain of Suratt's guilt as the rest of the nation until he starts to uncover evidence that suggests otherwise.  The only apparent incrimination against Suratt is that her son, John, was actually a part of Booth's group.  Despite Aiken's spirited defense and courageous attempts to literally save her life, Surratt is found guilty and the first woman to be executed by the United States government.

Right off the bat, I felt that there were some slight casting issues with this film.  I truly am an Alexis Bledel fan, but she did not belong in this picture at all.  Her acting was painfully stiff, and there was absolutely no

chemistry between her and James McAvoy.  I was relieved that her scenes were few and her final exit came long before the end.  It could be that I am just used to seeing Justin Long in less serious films, but I think his role might have been cast with someone else as well.  There was much less to complain about with his performance, but it still just didn't feel quite right.  Robin Wright and James McAvoy were amazing, however, and that was the movie's redemption!

The pace of the film was also quite slow.  I have the greatest admiration and respect for all things history.  This story was wonderfully researched and stunningly filmed, but I quickly realized it was not something I wanted to endure at 11:30PM!  It is a perfect piece to take in while in the comfort of your own home—where you are free to take a couple quick, refreshing breaks (or naps)!!  All the action is packed into the beginning while the rest is basically dusty courtroom drama.

From an entertainment standpoint, The Conspirator left me wanting that little something extra.  It would unquestionably make for a wonderful history lesson in the classroom and an enlightening lazy afternoon at home.  I just wish I hadn't dropped $20 and our coveted date night on it, but it is something I would consider adding to my personal movie collection.

 

Review by Cassie McCown

Fate (My Blood Approves 2)

 

Fate (My Blood Approves 2)

By:  Amanda Hocking

ISBN:  978-1453816868

Available Format:  Paperback and ebook

My rating:  ★★★★☆

In Fate, the second book of Amanda Hocking's My Blood Approves series, Alice Bonham is finally settling into a balance between the supernatural and natural of her life.  She manages to keep her brother, Milo, involved in her life while building a stronger relationship with her new vampire friends.  Jack, her maybe-boyfriend, is definitely struggling with his feelings for Alice.  Peter has disappeared, and Alice doesn't have a clue what is going on between them.  She's not really sure whether she wants to be with him at all.  Overshadowing everything else, tragedy suddenly strikes, and Alice is faced with a decision that will change every single life around her forever—certainly her own.

This book is much more Hocking's story than the first of the series.  I also found myself far more interested in the plot this time.  The conflict between Jack and Peter is steadily rising since Peter almost killed Alice at the end of My Blood Approves, and Jack is realizing just how strongly he feels for her.  Peter, however, is conveniently missing, so that gives Alice and Jack plenty of room to explore their evolving feelings for each other.  The reader is able to have a better understanding of the attraction between the two while the threat of her blood bond with Peter is not completely consuming their attention.  It is there, lurking in the background, but less important as the story progresses.

Although Peter is absent for most of this book, I cannot help but be drawn to him rather than Jack.  I think it might be a complex I have—I always seem to prefer the guy that the girl just isn't going to choose!  Perhaps in this case, it is just that Jack seems so juvenile and superficial at times, while Peter is darker, deeper, and more mature.  Still, I think I will never understand how these vampires who are hundreds of years old and have seen things in their lifetimes that most others cannot imagine can even be remotely interested in a silly teenage girl.  Maybe that is just a guy thing?!?

We find Alice much more alienated in this book as well.  Certain events seem to take not only all the attention off of her, but also pretty much everyone in her life is utterly separated from her.  I feel like the emotional content in this read is stronger than the first book.  I was also pleased that Milo became a more important character in Fate, since I think he is probably my most favorite character in the series.

The only complaint I really had about this book is the editing.   The grammar and mechanical mistakes were a huge distraction at times.  I am more forgiving of Hocking, however, because I knew she is self-published.  She is a wonderful writer, and I know from reading some of her other work that she continues to improve after this series.  This was another great escape for me and definitely kept me interested in the series.  I recommend it for anyone who has a true love for YA paranormal romance!

Review by Cassie McCown

 

If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Published :  April 9th 2009 by Dutton Juvenile (first published January 1st 2009)

ISBN :            0525421033 (ISBN13: 9780525421030)

Available format :      Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook
In a single moment,  everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck… A sophisticated, layered, and heart achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

 

Is it possible for one to be shocked, caught off guard after just reading a few pages into the book? Barely even getting the hang of things and then had their jaw dropped so wide open that it might pop off any second? I did. This is nothing I've ever expected, nothing in comparison at all.

How often that you read a book about the realm of purgatory? The clash between science and religion? Facts and spiritualism? Fiction and non-fiction? (yes, I'm mumbling) As how Kim and Mia grouped things, everything in the world mostly consists of two groups. It's a question about choices.

Purgatory- The world in between heaven and hell. This story was partly narrated from Mia's perspective, and it took place when Mia was stuck in purgatory, dwelling on the right choice. Though it's not accurate to call it purgatory (because she's torn between choosing life and death, not heaven and hell) but to call it otherwise would not properly define what I thought about the state Mia was in;p

I am attracted to how the author had written the story, how I felt Mia being so present yet distant at the same time – the flashbacks to narrating the present.  When I read the accident scene, I was struck shockingly, as I mentioned before, just a few pages into the books and the grief had seized me, amazing. And as a matter of fact, my jaw did pop wide open and my mind raced to sort things out. It's not possible! What? How? The accident took me fully by surprise and also spun me off the emotional roller coaster, I found myself to be stiffing a sob when I created the image of the horrid accident scene, and, of course, what took place there. I could just throw up, but I didn't. And as I proceeded through the story, I felt Mia's emotional turmoil even more, her concerns, her worries, her desires, her feeling tired and just wanted to get on with it; I felt her frustration. And with the aid of her flashbacks, I felt myself connecting to the story even more, as if I was bonded mentally (and emotionally) with it. Every time when she recalled her memories with her parents and Teddy, I had the urge to cry, how could such awesome parents die? It seemed impossible, but that's the moral isn't it? That Death is unpredictable?

Having to feel their closeness and then to relate to the present moment when the ties are broken, it's depressing. How would you feel when you woke up one day and find yourself an orphan? It would feel as if you have no more reason to live, and that's what Mia was pondering – giving up. But giving up means dying, and dying means leaving the ones who loved her, those not really her family, but those who mean as much as her family does to her -Adam, Kim, Gran, Gamps…She would hurt them as well. That was why Mia had to choose, to face the unknown, a new realm for her to explore….or….to face the challenge of the known world. And she sure took a long time to figure that out.

I broke down when Kim professed her love (in a weird way) towards Mia, they were best friends and I was also picturing myself as Mia, will I have a friend like this? I cried when Gramps talked to Mia, and even harder when Adam cried, because guys don't cry, and when they do….it means something deep, and I knew that he loved Mia with his whole heart. Yet, I was surprised once again at how everything ended, I think I should put it like this: The ending was predictable but how it ends was unpredictable. Got it?

I loved the way it ends! It put me in the middle of an amazing 'what-the-hell?' moment and also an 'Oh-My-Gosh!!!!' minute. And this is the exact quote of what I said when I finished the book 'How can it just end like that?!' in a shocking, yet, amused tone.

As for the characters, everyone was different and yet fun to read at the same time. All the while while I was reading, it's like every flashback tell us more about someone's personality.

If I stay- The title itself is enough to guarantee myself to cuddle up with this book and escape to a few hours of 'reading wonderland' and promising me that I will ruin my face for this one. If you had a rough day and find yourself wanting to cry but couldn't do so, try reading this. It managed to make me shed tears – I think I've been repeating this plenty times already!

To sum it all up, this is a book about choices, life, and bonds. Pick it up, you might find yourself being insightful later. A standing ovation to Gayle Forman for the extraordinary plot and characters. It was a blast, and it's a good way to start my sleep:) – I can't sleep if I don't read. Habits.

Natasha Anne

Any Witch Way

 

 

Any Witch Way

By Annastaysia Savage

Book Review Written By: Susan Haugland

Published Date: April 8, 2011

Publisher: JournalStone

Book Format: Paperback, pp 186

I would genuinely like to thank Christopher C. Payne over at JournalStone for the opportunity to read this book in advance and review it. It was a very fun, mystical quest from the moment I started reading it and a delight. I suggest you pick up a copy of it for yourself, if you haven't yet.

First of all, the cover of this book is just so incredibly pretty and has a very whimsical feel to it. It's sure to draw an eye or two. Plus, it's just pretty and so much fun and shows you right away that the book is sure to be filled with some pretty off-the-wall funny and fantastical characters.

This is definitely a book that will not let the reader down.

The main character, Sadie, is an orphaned girl about to turn thirteen on Halloween, trying as best she can to find her own sense of "normal." From the beginning readers see that she is picked on and sort of bullied in school, that she's grappling with losing her mother at such a young age, and having to deal with being shuffled from foster home to foster home never really feeling as if she fits in quite as well as she hopes to.

It is an easy read to get through, and the main character herself is quite relatable. Often times, I found myself identifying with her need to fit in, just be as normal as she can, and find her place – that niche where she belongs and can be herself. The lesson in self-confidence interwoven subtly into the storyline, is one that I think most young adults as well as younger kids themselves would benefit from paying attention to.

I found myself aching for Sadie who just really wanted her mom back because that's all that anyone would want who had experienced such a very painful and sad loss that great in their young life.  It was nice to see her relationship with Mrs. Felis become so meaningful and important to her and to also see how the older woman, in turn, cared deeply about her and her well being.

I found it to be engaging and interesting, watching Sadie find out that she was going to become a witch, having to deal with the issues that arose, and the greater epic battle between good vs. evil that she would have to be involved with. The Syndicate arc was very well written and developed and the villains were both entertaining and believable at best. Plus, those two gnomes were just absolutely hilarious and quite possibly my favorite character's from the book with Grimm being a close second.

I would definitely encourage younger kids and tweens to pick up a copy of this book, as it is a very fun and light, easy read. The mystical creatures are both well developed and endearing, the main character is easily relatable, and the story itself is just nothing short of whimsical and fun. The book possesses this sort of aura that kind of transports you back to your own childhood, if you let it.

Sometimes it is fun to just let the moment sweep you away and get caught up in the story unfolding between the pages. So, I have no problem giving this book four stars easily. Go on, go out and get your own copy. You will not be disappointed.

 

*Book Review written by Susan Haugland for JournalStone.

Book Review: Any Witch Way by Annastaysia Savage

Any Witch Way

By Annastaysia Savage

Book Review Written By: Susan Haugland

Published Date: April 8, 2011

Publisher: JournalStone

Book Format: Paperback, pp 186

I would genuinely like to thank Christopher C. Payne over at JournalStone for the opportunity to read this book in advance and review it. It was a very fun, mystical quest from the moment I started reading it and a delight. I suggest you pick up a copy of it for yourself, if you haven't yet.

First of all, the cover of this book is just so incredibly pretty and has a very whimsical feel to it. It's sure to draw an eye or two. Plus, it's just pretty and so much fun and shows you right away that the book is sure to be filled with some pretty off-the-wall funny and fantastical characters.

This is definitely a book that will not let the reader down.

The main character, Sadie, is an orphaned girl about to turn thirteen on Halloween, trying as best she can to find her own sense of "normal." From the beginning readers see that she is picked on and sort of bullied in school, that she's grappling with losing her mother at such a young age, and having to deal with being shuffled from foster home to foster home never really feeling as if she fits in quite as well as she hopes to.

It is an easy read to get through, and the main character herself is quite relatable. Often times, I found myself identifying with her need to fit in, just be as normal as she can, and find her place – that niche where she belongs and can be herself. The lesson in self-confidence interwoven subtly into the storyline, is one that I think most young adults as well as younger kids themselves would benefit from paying attention to.

I found myself aching for Sadie who just really wanted her mom back because that's all that anyone would want who had experienced such a very painful and sad loss that great in their young life.  It was nice to see her relationship with Mrs. Felis become so meaningful and important to her and to also see how the older woman, in turn, cared deeply about her and her well being.

I found it to be engaging and interesting, watching Sadie find out that she was going to become a witch, having to deal with the issues that arose, and the greater epic battle between good vs. evil that she would have to be involved with. The Syndicate arc was very well written and developed and the villains were both entertaining and believable at best. Plus, those two gnomes were just absolutely hilarious and quite possibly my favorite character's from the book with Grimm being a close second.

I would definitely encourage younger kids and tweens to pick up a copy of this book, as it is a very fun and light, easy read. The mystical creatures are both well developed and endearing, the main character is easily relatable, and the story itself is just nothing short of whimsical and fun. The book possesses this sort of aura that kind of transports you back to your own childhood, if you let it.

Sometimes it is fun to just let the moment sweep you away and get caught up in the story unfolding between the pages. So, I have no problem giving this book four stars easily. Go on, go out and get your own copy. You will not be disappointed.

 

*Book Review written by Susan Haugland for JournalStone.

A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)

By:  George RR Martin

ISBN:  9780553588484

Available formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, ebook, and Audiobook

My rating: ★★★★★

 

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

A Game of Thrones is a mature epic fantasy that carries a strong European historical undercurrent.  Martin focuses each chapter on a particular character from the third person point of view, so the reader is easily carried from one region of the land to another, giving the story a rich diversity and dimension.  The central character of this book is Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, and the majority of the plot involves his life and his family.  When Ned's close friend, King Robert Baratheon, visits his home and asks him to come south with him to take the post of the Hand, the king's most trusted and powerful advisor, the Stark family soon realizes that their lives will never be the same again.  Their family motto—"Winter is Coming"—takes a deeper meaning for each of them.  Before they even depart, they are warned that the previous Hand was murdered, possibly at the hand of the queen and her brother, and their young son, Bran, suffers a strange tragic accident leaving him crippled and comatose.  Stark has no other choice; however, than to accept the post and travel south with only his two daughters.

Stark's illegitimate son, Jon Snow, travels north to the great ice wall.  North of the wall lies the Haunted Forest where Wildlings and Others roam and peculiar things are beginning to happen.  It is unclear if it is something inhuman, dark, and demonic or the work of worldly sorcery.  The ever thinning guard of the wall is losing rangers left and right with no explanation, and soon the danger enters their own camps.  Jon is torn between his duties as a sworn brother of the Night's Watch and the plights of his family to the south.

To complicate matters further, the son and daughter of the previous king, usurped by Baratheon, are exiled across the sea.  Viserys agrees to sell his sister, Daenerys, to the leader of the Dothraki horse warriors in exchange for his aid in reclaiming the Iron Throne.  As a wedding gift, Dany receives three dragon eggs that are believed to be petrified—but are they???  Dragons are believed to have been extinct for hundreds of years, but Dany cannot help but feel a strange connection to the eggs which are always warm to her touch.  Dany manages to find love with her new husband, and they conceive a son that is prophesied to be the greatest ruler of the world.  Perhaps it is Daenerys, the blood of the dragon, which is actually the focus of that prophesy.

In my opinion, A Game of Thrones is in a league with greats such as The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.  Martin brings a whole new world to life as he weaves the mystical so subtly into the realistic.  I was completely drawn into the story just as much as I have ever been drawn into any of my favorite fantasy or historical fiction novels.  I found myself anxious with the fear of the events in the Haunted Forest, warm with the love that grew so quickly between Daenerys and her Kahl Drogo, and heartbroken with the sad losses disappointments the Stark family faced along the way.  Thanks to Martin's immense descriptive story-telling abilities, I became truly personally invested in each and every character in this read.  The most notable aspect of the story, I believe, is that there never really is an obvious protagonist or antagonist.  It makes the story so much more relatable, because real life is rarely ever clear cut good vs. evil.

I am certain not everyone will be able to appreciate this book.  It is long (over 800 pages), and the pace can sometimes be a bit slow.  Anyone who can commit themselves, however, should not be disappointed.  I began by listening to the audiobook, and the narrator did a perfect job of bringing the characters and the story to life.  It became apparent to me, though, that I am far too impatient for audiobooks, especially those that are over thirty-three hours!  I am really looking forward to reading the remainder of the series, and I have high expectations for where Martin will take me from here.  I think I might have found another favorite author!!

I first became interested in the Song of Ice and Fire series when I saw a preview for the television adaptation, Game of Thrones, which will debut on HBO this weekend, April 17, 2011.  I am truly excited to see how they will translate this tale onto the screen, and I hope it does not disappoint.  Some of my favorite actors and actresses are portraying the characters, and I am sure that it will soon be high on the list of my preferred television shows and movies.

Review by Cassie McCown

 

OUT

OUT

OUT by Natsuo Kirino

Published by Vintage in 2005

ISBN: 978-1400078370

Available in hardback, paperback, and audio book formats

*

Natsuo Kirino's OUT is technically a mystery, not a horror novel. But the story is so bloody, twisted, and grotesque, it's sure to satisfy most horror fans.

In modern-day Japan, four middle-aged women–cool-headed Masako, unappreciated Yoshie, materialistic Kuniko and pretty Yayoi–work the graveyard shift at a lunchbox factory. Their exhausted, miserable lives, complete with hateful family, unrelenting poverty, and thankless drudgery, show no signs of change until Yayoi's husband shows up one evening with an unpleasant revelation for her.

So she kills him.

The four friends rally together to cover up the crime, slicing up the body to hide it in local garbage bins. But even if they fool the police over the course of the resultant investigation, they have a more dangerous enemy to worry about: Satake, a twisted gangster whose life is ruined when the police zero in on him as a suspect. And if he's dangerous when he hates the four women for harming him, imagine how horrific he, with his history of rape-murder, will be when he becomes infatuated with Masako….

OUT is equal parts mystery, societal criticism, and horror. The dismembering of Yayoi's husband (and a few other people before the end), brutal rapes, and bloody murders are handled with graphic detail as Masako and the others fight for their lives against increasingly severe odds. There is no sugar-coating to be found on the story, only ruined relationships, dead-end jobs, and bleak lives. And blood…lots and lots of blood.

And yet there is a kind of hope, because Masako is so willing to search for it. OUT throws a variety of colorful characters at her, from a sociopathic loan shark who thinks she's awesome, to her own teenage son who hates her, to a young immigrant who's so lonely he's on the verge of losing his mind. As she grows and changes with each experience, readers realize Masako might just find the freedom she's looking for, if she can survive the horrific mental and physical trials she'll have to go through to reach it.

OUT was Natsuo Kirino's first book translated into English, and in my opinion, it's her magnum opus. The two published after were both worth reading, but OUT is a cut above just about any other mystery or horror novel out there today.

*

Review by Elizabeth Reuter

Writing Tips!

Now that you have a story in mind and you know what you want to say, get to writing. But always remember no matter how perfect your manuscript is, you can always improve upon it. If you're a new writer, there are a few common pitfalls you should keep in mind.

There is such a thing as reading your own writing too much – you can become blind to your typos, your problem spots, and your recurring mistakes. To remedy that problem, we suggest stepping away. Shelve your writing for as long as you can stand to, then come back and read it with a fresh eye. You'll catch mistakes you never knew you made.

The thought of scrutinizing your own creation can seem a tad overwhelming, so we've put together a list of a few must-do things and a few pitfalls to be sure you keep an eye out for – and yes, Grammar Police, it is now considered acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition.

1. Not proofing: We're taking a moment to reiterate how important it is to proof your work – or better yet, have someone else proof it for you. You will make mistakes as you write. You cannot catch them all with one read-through. Do yourself and your publisher a favor and invest in good proofing.

2. Verbosity: No doubt you are in love with your story. You have a clear vision of what you want your reader to imagine when they read your words. That's great – just be careful of over-describing your setting, your characters, or the ongoing action. Bogging your reader down in too many words is just as bad as leaving them with no description at all.

3. Making yourself the story: This really only works if you're already famous. It's fine to pull a few autobiographical details from your life, but building a work of fiction solely around yourself could be dangerous. Never forget that your No. 1 priority as the author is to entertain and engage your reader. You may think your life is fascinating, but everyone else may not agree. Your best bet: fabricate some characters.

4. Awkward word choice/Overuse of words: The best novels talk to the reader in a conversational way. Don't spend too much time trying to sound über-intelligent. Using what we like to call "the New York Times word of the day," (no disrespect to the newspaper or its talented reporters) can often frustrate readers. Few people keep a dictionary next to them while they read a work of fiction. Also, be careful you don't overuse certain words or phrases. We're all guilty of it in real life. We have "our catch phrase" that we use almost unconsciously. Make sure the same habit doesn't creep into your writing.

5. Forgetting to monitor your grammar: In the heat of writing, it's so easy to miss an apostrophe (its vs. it's) or mix up your homonyms (there, their, they're). Take a few minutes to brush up on your grammar and slow down a bit in your writing. You'll save yourself and others editing time later.

Resonance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resonance by A. J. Scudiere

GriffynInk 2008

ISBN 9780979951008

Available in e-book and paperback

 

You turned my world upside down.  It's a phrase that is thrown around quite often, without a second thought about what it could imply.  What if one day the world really did start turning upside down?  You can't escape it, the world isn't waiting for you to adjust.  It's going to follow it's course, and give itself the biggest face life its had since T-Rex ruled the world.

Jillian, Jordan, David, and Becky all come from radically different backgrounds, all with PhDs in their own fields.  All four of them come to the realization something is definitely wrong in the world today.  Jillian and Jordan, both working with the CDC, learn about a new disease that is killing people by the droves with no rhyme or reason.  David learns the rocks he loves are not quite making sense.  The way the geologists are labeling them is completely messed up.  Becky is finding six legged frogs in her backyard and birds that are flying to the wrong places at the wrong times.

None of these phenomenon seem to relate to each other at all, until the four meet up unexpectedly in a small town where people dying and the world seems to have changed its mind about a few laws it once had. They learn the polarities of the earth are changing.  North is now south; south is now north, but this only seems to be happening in bubbles, and the bubbles are growing larger.   Someone send St. Nick a change of address card and pray he survives.

It took me a little while to get into this book.  The storyline seemed to crawl at the beginning.  The set up may have taken a little longer than necessary, but the middle and ending of the book were worth trudging through the beginning for.  The plot was incredibly creepy.  The end of the world has been in the forefront of many people's minds lately.  This is a new twist on one scenario of the demise of the world.  This book takes you for a fool a couple of times, just when you think things are finished, another curve ball has been pitched your way, and you may need to step back in order from being hit by the ball.  Once you hit the midway point, do not let your guard down, or you may miss something important.

The characters in the book are a bit on the "unreal" side at times, but that could be because I don't usually find myself surrounded by geniuses on a regular basis and therefore have no basis on how they would behave.  I guess someone truly brilliant would be able to think things through and come up with the brilliance that occurs.  The characters are lovable though.  There was a character that only lasted a chapter or two that I found myself mourning when he passed.  There are meaningful layers to each of these characters that make you want to slap them or hug them, depending on the situation.

If you can handle the creepiness of the possible end of the world, pick this book up and give it a good chance.  The story may start off slow, but you will be tightening your seat belt before it is all said and done.

 

A Hunger Like No Other

 

 

A Hunger Like No Other

Author Kresley Cole

POCKET STAR BOOKS, year 2006

ISBN: 978-1-4165-0987-5

Available format: Paperback & ebook

A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her…

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to fine the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to sooth the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy…

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents- until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae- and their notorious dark desires- ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire…

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be.

I can sum up this book in one word: amazing. I loved this book! I read it all in one day! If you haven't heard of this series, or are debating if you should read it or not; stop your debating and pick this book up! I couldn't believe how much I was into this book, it was that good. I loved everything about it from the plot, to the writing, to the characters. All righty now on with the review!

Plot – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ As you can see from how many stars I rated the plot, I totally loved it…! I found myself wanting to read more and more, sometimes I was able to force myself to stop reading, but not five minutes later I was picking it back up and losing myself in it's pages. I give the plot five stars!

Writing – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ The writing was amazingly done- well to me anyway, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling as the book progressed. I found myself wanting more and more to happen so that the book would never end- and that's saying something…! I give the writing five stars!

Characters -☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ The characters were a very interesting bunch. I enjoyed very much learning about them and their dreams and fears. I didn't find myself disliking them- okay there were a few that got on my nerves, but only a few. I really found myself liking the two main characters, Emmaline and Lachlain and Lachlain oldest friend, Bowe. I give the characters five stars!

Emmaline 'Emma' Troy – Emma is very soft spoken person, never having like conflict, or causing anyone she cared for pain. When she is in Paris researching her heritage Lachlain finds her and claims that she is his mate… I found myself really liking her. Reason for me liking her is that as the book progresses she finds herself and finds that she isn't some weakling that doesn't belong on either sides her Valkyrie or vampire side.

Lachlain MacRieve – Is the King of the Lykae. For the past hundred and fifty years he has been the prisoner of the vampire horde and tortured all though that time. Though his clan has thought him dead for the past hundred and fifty years or more, he has not lost his sanity and looks for revenge against the King of the vampire horde, Demestriu, of the pain he has inflicted on him.

Bowe – Bowe is part of the Lykae clan and will do anything for Lachlain. With all the pain he has gone through he will do anything to make Lachlain happy and to see that Emmaline will know exactly what Lachlain has gone through in his search for her.

Demestriu – The King of the vampire horde, knows as the oldest and most powerful vampire in the world.

Ivo – A vampire who wants to dethrone Demstriu and become king.

Overall I give this book ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ – nothing more and nothing less!