Victoria Limbert's Blog, page 3

Competition/Giveaway!! - 01/08/2017

Many exciting new things are happening! 

Firstly I absolutely love the new lettering on the covers of both Lilith and Fateless. The lettering was revamped by Aspire Book Covers. You can visit their page by clicking the link on the sidebar to the right of my blog. 

Secondly, my mind has been whirling with new thoughts and ideas since I moved to Norway back in November last year. You can take a sneaky peek at my current Work In Progress HERE . If you fill out the little survey below the excerpt you would help me by letting me know if you enjoyed it or not and may even find yourself a little e-book freebie! You can also click the picture below to have a quick look. Third (and final) piece of good news is, I have reached my next big milestone of 5,000 Twitter Followers whom have been massively supportive and kind! I promised a Giveaway when I reached this magical number and so here it is. You can win a Paperback Copy of my Debut Novel, Lilith (Twin Soul Novels #1) and a cute bracelet made by myself (I have a couple of colours you can choose from and you can take a look at my handmade hobby shop HERE I am grateful to anyone who follows my page). Click the image below to check out the reviews of Lilith at Goodreads . Feel free to friend me there, add any of my books to your to-read list or leave a comment. I love talking books and life with all people! Giveaway Time!!! Fill out the Rafflecopter below, entering as many options as you choose for your chance to win Lilith and a Bracelet.a Rafflecopter giveaway Thank you for offering your time. Something which is precious to all of us in this busy world. The winner will be drawn a couple days after the competition has ended and contacted by email. Thank you all for taking part and GOOD LUCK.

Lord of Shadows (TID #2) Book Review

Author- Cassandra Clare

My Rating- 4.5 STARS

Synopsis- A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim.  ​They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

My Review- Wow! Every time I pick up a Cassandra Clare book I know the plot lines are going to be thick and weaving, the characters are going to face a tank load of hard decisions and angst and sometimes someone who I adore is going to die. There will be all kinds of love and people types and orientations.

Lord of Shadows did not fail to bring me all of this. Emma and Julian and a whole host of supporting cast (some new, some from previous books) have much to do. They believe the threat of Malcolm came to an end in the previous book but they underestimated warlock powers. The moment Emma killed him, after discovering a whole lot of traitorous behaviour and murder, a spell was triggered to bring him back from the dead. Malcolm has a mission and he needs Blackthorn blood to finish his ritual. With the Black Volume, he has great power and raises a lost love who then ends his life for real and runs away with it.

It would seem everyone wants the book and the power it has to offer. The Seelie Queens offers them a bargain they can not resist as destructive as the outcome may be, the Unseelie King wants it for his dark plans to destroy all Shadowhunters and rule the whole of Faery and Emma and Julian need it in hopes of saving their family and, perhaps end the Cold Peace that has banished the Faeries from Shadowhunters and other Downworlders, choking their power and forbidding them to seek help. And then, there is the small problem of Emma and Julian's love, and the curse it may bring on them and others through their parabatai bond. 

Emma has tried everything to get Julian to hate her, dating his brother and rejecting him as often as she can, but they are drawn to each other. Their love is world destroying. And Julian doesn't care if the world is destroyed. He will do anything for Emma and his family, no matter the costs of the destruction left behind. Julian is a warrior, but he is ruthless and one track minded when he wants something. And that, in the end, is what causes many great tragedies that tore my heart wide open. The ending was a cold bucket of water thrown over me that left me speechless.

The ending of this book near killed me. The loss was awful. I haven't felt that way since the previous series when Max lost his life, the youngest Lightwood. But I was left quite confused, which is why this is the only book by Cassandra Clare I have ever given less than 5 stars. When Max was killed, I understood, there was great evil in Sebastion ( a previous villain in TMI) and always would be. It was how he was created. But Annabel is a different story, what she does makes no sense to me. Since her return to life, yes she has been messed up by a terrible past, but she was sane, spoke reasonably, ultimately was trying to protect Julian from the terrible power of the Black Volume. But then....she goes psycho and had she struck out at any other person than who she did, I could have accepted it. But her choice of victim and her turn to craziness barely made sense to me.

However, the shocking end had the desired effect despite my confusion. I will continue to devour every Shadowhunter book placed in front of me because it is a world I can not get enough of. I hope Cass never stops creating Shadowhunters for us to follow...or perhaps have Downworlders as main characters to get a more in depth look at their world. People moan about there being more and more books based in this world, but seriously her writing is amazing. Fluid and beautiful, her descriptions are out of this world. And while there are stories to be had in this world, I want to read them. I will never get tired of Shadowhunters (only the books though, the TV series hasn't done much for me) 

Wrong Number, Right Guy Book Review

Author- Elle Casey

My Rating- 4 STARS

Synopsis- When a mysterious text message summons May Wexler to a biker bar in downtown New Orleans, she knows something is very wrong. Her sister has sent out an SOS, but when May gets there, she’s nowhere to be found and May is the one in trouble—she’s wearing pink espadrilles, she’s got a Chihuahua in her purse, and she’s in the middle of a shootout.

After tall, muscular Ozzie comes to her rescue, May has no choice but to follow him to safety. At the headquarters of his private security firm, the Bourbon Street Boys, she finds a refuge for the night—and the offer of a job. But it’s not long before a gun-toting stalker isn’t the only complication in May’s life: the more time she spends with Ozzie, the less she can deny that they’ve got some serious chemistry. A wrong number got her into this mess…Will it also get her the right guy?
My Review- I picked up Wrong Number, Right Guy because the blurb seemed interesting and it was available through Kindle Unlimited. It kept me gripped from the first few pages and I read it within a day. May Wrexler is a very humourous character who loves her sister and all her rebel nieces and nephew. She is likeable, fun and even though she has a panicky inner monologue during stressful situations, she handles them pretty well.

But, it is this love for her family and some exchanged texts with an unknown number she assumes belongs to her sister's new phone that brings her to a bar known for its crime. Frankies, a biker bar. The message tells her to get her 'ass' there and believing her sister is having a breakdown, she doesn't hesitate. And is suddenly caught up in a gun fight and a man trying to save her life in a gruff, alpha male way. 

The action was fun and the slow burning chemistry between May and Ozzie was great to read. Ozzie runs a security firm with a group of fun and colourful characters and they soon come to care about May and her safety. Though she is anything but helpless with her taser on hand and quick reflexes when she is terrified. Even so, she is up against drug dealers and hardened criminals who settle their disputes with guns. 

It is steamy and sweet and funny. My only complaint and the reason for not giving this a full five stars was the ending. After such a great book it was just terribly abrupt and disappointing when there was potential for action and rescues and some alpha male growling. But never the less, overall, I enjoyed the book.

The Selection (The Selection #1) Book Review

Author- Keira Cass

My Rating- 4 STARS

Synopsis- ​For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. My Review- I really enjoyed this, though some parts were a little lacking and I was honestly disappointed in the main character at the very end.

(potential spoilers)

This starts off sort of like a none lethal Hunger Games story. It is a dystopian America set after a Fourth World War where many conflicts have seen them under the rule of China, then as it's own country again, named after the man who led it to freedom and became a King. So America, for this story, is named Illea. In this new Illea Princesses are married off to other countries to strengthen treaties and Princes marry a daughter of the appropriate age from one of many districts of the country. There is also something similar to factions within the districts (A little like divergent but not by human traits separating them but by work and coin). Eights are the homeless and wanderers, Ones are royalty. From thousands of girls, only 35 are selected to live within the palace so that the Prince can choose a wife amongst them.

America, the heroine of the story (not the country itself) is a Five, the artist's faction who are neither starving but don't quite live comfortable enough to have luxuries. She is a Singer and plays many instruments and she believes she is in love with a boy in a lower faction. Females do not marry down and so they keep it secret. But Aspen breaks up with her and at the same time she has been selected, along with others, for the Prince. 

From the moment she lives in the palace walls she is glad to be away from her heartbreak but makes it clear to the Prince she does not want him romantically and offers to be his friend instead. Yet, they do bond and they do grow closer and the Prince takes care of her well. He even promises to wait for her to decide if she loves him back. Which brings me to the only part of this book that really disappointed me and stopped me from giving that 5-star rating. Part of her wants Aspen, part wants the Prince and she makes it clear that she is enjoying the triangle around her, which is unfair to both the boys. It stopped her from being that kind, strong, elegant woman and made her seem a little arrogant and selfish.

However....I am ready to delve into Book 2 and see how it goes and whether she redeems herself. Wonderfully written. A world full of flaws and fear. A great start to the series.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn Book Review

Author- Gillian Flynn

My Rating- 5 STARS

Synopsis- Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows, a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.
My Review- An amazing book. A story of serial murder in a backwards, creepy town where the females are cruel and shallow and bored of their rich lives and the men dote on them. The younger males use the girls like their personal toys, sleeping with them one by one at drunken parties. The popular circles torture those who don't fit in. The atmosphere of Wind Gap is chilling to the core. All have secrets, all edge on the strange and above all the voice of this book, Camille, has her own set of flaws. 

Camille moved away from Wind Gap and became a police reporter in Chicago. Her memories of her hometown, Wind Gap, are more like nightmares. She hates and craves her mother at the same time , who is deeply disturbing throughout the story. She also lost her sister, Marian, who was always a sickly child. Or was she? Camille, through the traumas of her childhood, became a cutter to deal with it. She became obsessed with words and covered her body in them, healed to permanent scars. 

Heading back to Wind Gap to get the scoop on a serial killer has her falling back in to old, damaging routines and she begins to put together some horrifying facts about her childhood and how it may connect to the killings. The killer chooses independent, wild children, kills them and removes their teeth. Camille must find out who is doing it, why and what secrets the town is hiding that could be a break in the case. 

This books was great. Camille is a likable main character and her voice is so full of pain, needy in a way a child who lacks love begs for it. She is a little messed up, battles with the urge to cut herself daily and drinks heavily to not have to deal with life sober. Part of her was beginning to mend in Chicago but this place holds too much darkness for her. She is flawed. She lies and worries she will become like her mum, but ultimately in her core I think she is kind and smart. She struggles to love herself and allows others to use her. I wanted to hug her tightly and take care of her. 

It's a book I wish I could read all over again without knowing how it ends because even right to the last chapter, the story twists and turns again.

A Court of Wings and Ruin Book Review

Author- Sarah. J. Maas

My RATING- 5 STARS

Synopsis- A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

My Review- This book left me breathless. I truly wasn't prepared for it! Feyre and Rhys yet again captured my heart. Their love, described with talented words, is so deep and tangible that you can feel it for yourself. 

The previous book left Feyre in enemy territory. Back in the Spring Court with Tamlin after he basically betrayed everyone, including her human family, to get her back.  He loves her and believes, somehow, that Rhys twisted her mind with his powers to turn Feyre against him. But Feyre is Rhy's true mate and equal in every way and he allows her freedom and choice and to live how she wishes whereas Tamlin wants to cage her away, doesn't believe she is strong enough to live for herself. 

Feyre shows us her wit and intelligence as she seeks to weaken Tamlin's court from the inside and punish him for allowing Hybern (an evil Fae king who wishes to destroy and enslave humans and all the courts and rule it all for himself) to camp his massive armies in the Spring Court. She even shows a much darker, vengeful side that I enjoyed. But it is all far more complicated than that. Those they believe are enemies are secretly seeking to help and those they believed as allies... Will they step up? Nothing was certain. Lives were lost. There is a war and it won't be easy to win! And the ending blew me away. 

This book left me crying, happy and tense. I can't wait for the next book. Some things still need to be wrapped up! These Archeron sisters are really making these near perfect men work for their affection! I hope it all works out for them. 

An amazing third book! I can't be anymore of a fan of this author.

New Book Cover Lettering for Twin Souls!

Thank you to Sharon Brownlie for her lovely work on the new wording on my book covers. Lilith and Fateless looked dull and tired and not very eye catching at all. It is amazing what a big difference wording, font and colour can do. Thank you very much and I urge others to seek her help. Very friendly, quick service. I had input at every stage! Thank you again! 

Here are my covers with the BRAND NEW LETTERING!  Below you can check out the covers with their old, boring wording. It amazes me how new, better woring can change the whole cover! I Love it. If you wish to check out more of her work and seek help, you can click on the ASPIRE BOOK COVERS image on my blog sidebar, or simply HERE  

The Assassin's Blade Book Review

Author- Sarah J. Maas

My Rating- 5 STARS

Synopsis- Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.

My Review- The Assassin's Blade is the set of 5 Novella's about Celaena Sardothien's life before we meet her in the Throne of Glass series. They are the stories that have shaped her character development in the series we love. Each tale was hinted at in TOG and it was great so see them in action.

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord visits the time Celaena went against her Master's orders to free hundreds of slaves from an infamous Pirate with a magical map tattooed on his hands. There we meet Sam Cortland, another Assassin of her Guild, properly for the first time. He is hinted at constantly in the Throne of Glass series, a lost love who was taken from her far too soon and gave her the darkness simmering within her. This was a great, sassy tale of the girl who fights like death but has a heart of gold.

The Assassin and the Healer was a much slower tale, a novella filling in the time between freeing the slaves and Celaena's Master's punishment. Arobynn, the King of Assassins and the one who took her in and trained her. Arobynn beat her to unconsciousness and sends her on her way to the middle of a scorching hot desert to be trained and seek the approval of a legendary Assassin, but before that, she has a lot of rage to burn. 

The Assassin and The Desert was great to read. While seeking the approval of the Mute Master, Assassin of the Red Desert, Celaena meets Ansel. They become fast friends, train and fight enemies together. They steal expensive, rare horses from a man who tries to end the Desert Assassins. And then she is betrayed and must choose between her rage and letting someone close to her, leave with their life intact.

The Assassin and the Underworld was a cruel and cheap shot delivered by Arobynn as payback for Celaena losing him money in the slave trade business and for choosing to love Sam Cortland, paying off her debts to him and moving away. After saving hundreds of Slaves in Skulls Bay, Arobynn pretends to give Celaena the opportunity to save more...thought his plan is far more twisted than that. He is spiteful and succeeds in pushing Celaena further away from him and making her hate him.

And then there is my personal favourite of the 5 Novellas. The Assassin and the Empire. This is a story that has created the Celaena we love in the Throne of Glass series. She has been used, betrayed, beaten and lost love. She has been part of a twisted plan, using her kindest parts against her. Arobynn uses his words to hurt, his plans to destroy her are heartbreaking. This tale had me near tears and so angry that I couldn't wait to re-read the main series to watch her pay them all back for what they did to her. 

A great set of 5 novellas. Some better than others, but all worth the time to read and understand what happened to our heroine before she is taken from the slave camps and used by the Prince as a champion to battle for her freedom.

An Ember in the Ashes: Book Review

Author- Sabaa Tahir

My Rating- 5 STARS

Synopsis- Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
 Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
 
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
 
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
 
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Review- Wow! 5 Clear Stars!

From the very first chapter I was completely hooked. Laia, a brave girl who has lost all her family to an Empire that has conquered and enjoyed torturing the Scholar people, her people. Her parents were part of the Resistance who fought against the Empire with their heart and soul, only to be betrayed by those they called friends and handed over to the Empire for torture and execution. Her Nan and Pop murdered by the Empire's Elite warriors called Masks, in front of her eyes, and her brother captured and imprisoned. She is all that is left and she vows to free her brother and so she seeks help from the Resistance who send her on a mission to spy on one of the most frightening and deadliest people in the Empire.

Elias, a Mask for the Empire who is pulled in many directions by his strong views of what is morally wrong and what he is forced to do at the constant threat of punishment and death. He is one of the most skilled Masks amongst his age and has the qualities to grow better. Except that he meets Laia, who is a slave, and is drawn to her beauty and inner strength. He cares for her and of the lives he takes. He struggled to fully be the cold, merciless killer he was trained as. 

It is very hard to review An Ember in the Ashes without giving too many spoilers but these two characters had me cheering for them throughout the entire book and the hardships they were set to face. There are much more powerful beings, called Augurs, who can sense thoughts, who dream and have visions of the future, who are guiding the characters along their paths whether they like it or not. Whether it breaks their minds and souls. The plot is intricate, the villians are awful and I hate them with a passion and can only hope the time will come for them to fall. The Resistance are not what they seem and magic is coming back to the world. 

The only tiny thing I was not keen on in this book was the fact that the main characters couldn't decide who they had feelings for. Elias, as a young man, was often distracted by a pretty face and was sexually confused about his best friend, Helene. Laia incited something deeper in him though we have yet to see where that goes. Romance in this story is just touched upon. There is far too much going on around them for these things to hold importance....at the moment...but I am hoping this will develop in later books! because honestly I love Elias and Laia together, they are strong and understanding with each other. Laia herself has confusing moments with another man. But it seemed to me, if Elias and Laia were meant for anyone else their paths would have taken them that way and not thrown them both together so often (my opinion of course).

This book was fantastic! I loved the writing style, I love the way the plot was woven and layered and it was hard to guess what would happen next. I loved every darn second and can't wait to read the next books in the series!

Giveaway of Paperback Edition of Lilith: Twin Souls #1

I hit my 4,500 Twitter FOLLOW target and, as promised, I am giving away a Paperback copy of my first ever novel Lilith: Twin Soul Novels #1

Lilith is a dark urban fantasy with adult and 'trigger' material that may not be for everyone. There is plenty of mature content, demons, Hellworlds and terrible villains with no morals.

See below for the book cover and blurb:
After a traumatic event suffered at a young age, Annette Anderson believes she has been cursed with the 'Sight'. The ability to see the Hellworlds and demon souls drove her in to a world of sin and sex, attracting the unwanted attention of the Underground. After months of torture, the She-demon, Lilith, attempted to take Annette's body and drive out her human soul. Unexpectedly, Annette's soul fought back, trapping Lilith and leaving them to reside together on a shaky truce.

Along with the help of Michael Daltry, a detective with the Metropolitan Police and Rowan, a demon ordered to protect them, Annette and Lilith must work together to uncover the reasons behind a spate of grisly murders that has hit the the busy city of London.

If they fail, it will truly be Hell on Earth!

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. The competition is International. 


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a Rafflecopter giveaway