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(group member since Jun 27, 2012)
Annabell’s
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Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz5/5 stars
Under the Cover of Wicca continues right where Watchtower had left off. Martin is still attempting to get used to his job working for a half demon-half human boss named Jezryall, a Druid named Aslin or referred to as the Scot, who can do element fused magic, a woman who can see ahead in time and back through touch named Barbara and then there’s Daniel, who can see and speak to the dead—yeah, totally normal job. In the second installment, the team sets out to take down a Wiccan coven using black magic to open the portals of hell by using the souls of innocent victims. As Martin tries to adjust to the rules set by Jezryall, he is also assigned with having to protect Janet, a teenage girl who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Soon enough the team is thrown into a battle that will have them facing their weaknesses and tragedy as they fight to eliminate an evil that is determined to send the world to Hell, literally.
I really enjoyed the second installment to the WatchTower Series. Martin was a bit of a wimp in the first one but his character improved in Under the Cover of Wicca. He still whines a bit but that’s due to the fact that a world of magic and supernaturals are mixing into his human life so it’s understandable. Martin is more direct and has a stronger attitude. I still would like to see him in more action related scenes taking the reins but his character was better portrayed in the second installment.
Aslin, the Scot, of course, is always fun to read. I just love the mystery behind him and the wisdom he holds. He also has a caring heart underneath his studious exterior. Barbara wasn’t as strong of a character as the first novella and she seemed to take a backseat more in the second installment. I was a bit disappointed in that because I wanted to see more of her kick butt attitude. She did have more vulnerability which I understood and appreciated. Daniel was as sweet as always and cute. I’m still waiting for Daniel to have his moment in the sun since he plays a background character more than anything. I do like his gifts though. I love how respectful and delicate he handles the dead spirits. One of the best aspects of the book was how the story showcased more Jezryall’s character. I liked being able to see the story from her perspective and to see the battle within herself with her half-demon part. She is fiercely strong and powerful but she’s also so vulnerable and human.
There are only a few things that bothered me within the second installment. Janet was quite the annoying character. She came off too much as whiny and an airhead. I appreciated the fact that she wasn’t in the story that much or the read would have been ruined. As much as I like the fact that Aslin is developing a romance with another character introduced in the second installment, it seemed a little too out of leftfield. It sprang out too quickly and made the scene feel like it was just thrown in instead of flowing with the rest of the novella. If the romance continues I would like to see it better developed. The novella is short which would have frustrated me if not for the fact that the author will continue to explore the characters and plot in future books which I look forward to reading.
Under the Cover of Wicca was a great and fast-paced read. I was happy to be able to get to know the characters I have come to befriend a lot better. I am especially looking forward to seeing what the BIG mystery is behind Jezryall’s secretive comments to Martin’s role in the upcoming battles!
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/04/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
I am a BIG lover of the fantasy and paranormal world. I always love when authors manage to mix both worlds together in unique and fun ways. The Watchtower is a novel that fits both worlds. There were aspects of the book I enjoyed and aspects I believe could use some work.
The story opens right smack in the middle of intrigue and mysterious fantasy. As a reader, I was instantly drawn into the story through my eager curiosity. The characters come into the story cloaked in magic and strong personalities. I liked Aslin right from the beginning and he remained my favorite character throughout my time reading the novella. He is an authoritative, no-nonsense type of guy,but also kind and wise. I also couldn’t help,but love the fact that he was Scottish *wink*
Martin was an alright lead. He often times lacked common sense and was too gullible. I was also rather frustrated with the fact that he fell head over heels for his new boss and for some ridiculous reason, trusted not only his new boss, but new teammates when he knew nothing about them. He spent his time gawking at his new boss or making stupid decisions. His character did manage to redeem himself later in the action scenes. Barb was a fierce and strong willed woman. I liked her gift and appreciated the fact that the author created a female character with both power and brains. Daniel is cute and sweet, but he also acts too childish at times and a bit useless. Jezryall is never really developed. She is the blandest character out of the set and very underwhelming considering the power she holds.
The plot is fairly interesting but the execution lacked the “wow” power to really show off what the author was hoping to accomplish. There were moments of suspense, scenes full of action and alluring revelations, but the actions of the characters, particularly Martin and Jezryall, as well as the dialogue dampened some of those scenes. The actions scenes though were written pretty well and were probably the best scenes from the novella.
I did like the mixture of Greek mythology and Christian storytelling. I also liked the idea behind the zombies. Although, the mixtures of Greek and zombies were a bit odd and out of leftfield; as a reader I found the connection hard to connect together even for a fantasy story. There just seemed to be something missing within the plotline.
I do not usually comment on the level of grammar errors within a novel because I realize that editing can’t always be perfect and for an Indie author, it can be difficult to find a good editor for an affordable price. But since at the beginning of the novella, the author gives notice that it had been copyedited, I had noticed many places where words were misspelled and the amount of commas used. It became a bit distracting at times.
The Watchtower is one of those stories with such a high level of potential and refreshing concept that, even with its many flaws, I would still recommend reading. Perhaps if the author looked into a good content edit or extending the novella to more pages, both the story and characters would be fleshed out better.
The author’s voice is strong with sarcasm underneath. I am curious to see what other stories the author comes up with and how she grows as a writer. The Watchtower is a short and quick read fantasy fans will have fun reading.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/04/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz3/5 stars
Spoilers ahead!
Upon reading the synopsis to The Sin Collector, I was definitely eager to jump into the book but as the bad reviewer that I am =P, I wasn’t able to get to the book for some time since my life and other books kept getting in my way! So the moment I sat down to read, I jumped in and refused to let anyone interrupt me. I can only describe my relationship with The Sin Collector as a complicated love affair.
The book isn’t so much a book but a novella, which surprised since I had been expecting a full length novel, but that did not deter me in the least from jumping right in. The story starts off strong, building up the curiosity from the beginning and keeping the reader interested pretty much throughout the entire read. The suspense is well built in certain scenes and some of the action is just as well done. I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters—for the most-part—and could relate to them, especially Liliana since the story is told from her point of view.
Liliana begins the novella with strength and sarcasm, two things I always appreciate in a heroine or hero. I instantly liked her and wanted to continue her story. Billy or William was sweet, protective, and cute. My favorite character though was Olexander. He’s wise, has a certain old world charm, and it doesn’t hurt he’s not hard on the eyes *wink*
As much as I did enjoy the book overall, there were just certain things that made me wish I had the Word document to the book so I could take a red pen to it and start reworking scenes, plot, and characters.
I don’t usually care too much about grammatical errors in books (or novellas) because most of the time there aren’t that many to really distract from the story. That was not the case though in The Sin Collector. Nearly every other page (perhaps every page?) had commas missing, sentences ending in weird places, or words needing capitalization. The first few pages, I just overlooked the errors because it happens. We’re all human and can miss a few things here and there but there were so many my eyes just kept locking onto them. I really just wanted to fix all of them so they would stop distracting me so often.
The book is written well, fast-paced, and reads with ease. All great aspects of the book and proves the author has actual talent. But that aside, the novella doesn’t work as a novella. Fortunato has come with such a wonderfully refreshing idea and I would have loved to have seen the concept developed through a full-length novel.
The characters are not fleshed out as much as they need to be to really know them. Liliana spends pretty much the entire novella TELLING the story to the reader. Everything feels like it’s being dictated instead of experienced which became frustrating since she was the only real character the reader gets to know. Billy and Olexander do have a backstory, somewhat, but their characters are overshadowed by Liliana constantly explaining everything in such abrupt ways.
The action scenes fall under the same predicament. Whenever a scene came up that would go in the direction of some type of action and the reader is filled with suspense and tension, waiting to see what is going to happen, the scene would suddenly be over and everything would quickly be resolved. It felt like sitting on a chair and someone kicking it out from under you.
Spoilers ahead!! You've been warned!!
But the aspect that just floored me with the novella and had me stepping away from reading (first time I had to step away from the story which I don’t often do) was when Liliana and Billy sleep with each other. The scene happened in the middle of an important mission and Billy SERIOUSLY said, “LiLi this could be our last night on earth. Don’t you think we should enjoy it?” then Liliana proceeds to ACTUALLY fall for the line and go with Billy into her bedroom. Even though she isn’t sure she can really trust him. Even though she’s on a mission to keep all of the Sin Collectors alive and rescue others. Even though Liliana is supposed to be not only smarter than that but better than that! Then the next chapter proceeds to only prove why Liliana shouldn’t trust Billy but she doesn’t really make any real comment about the secretive phone call. Then she proceeds to have a mini make out session with Olexander when he comes to help rescue her claiming he had always been the one for her!!!! (Insert near brain aneurysm here).
I don’t know why the author would decide to go down such a cliché and novice path. Clearly the concept to the book is unique and the talent is very much there so why fall under the bus of “been there, read that so many times before.”
I liked the way the novella ended though. It was sweet and nice. I also enjoyed the fact that the book didn’t end on a cliff hanger (even though I do enjoy a good cliff hanger). The ending fit the book and it was nice to see Liliana finally begin really living after everything she’s been through.
But The Sin Collector was missing the depth and fat to make it into the story it deserves to be. I so desperately wanted to rewrite the book. Strengthen the characterization and the dynamic relationships with each of the characters. I wanted to showcase the secondary characters a bit more since they do matter in the third half of the novella. I wanted to strengthen Liliana’s voice so she doesn’t fizzle out into a shallow, bossy and somewhat gullible character when she starts off the story as a strong and assertive woman. I wanted to fix all the missing commas because there were too many missing. I wanted to add another two hundred pages so the fluidity of the story and the various obstacles faced throughout have time to be played out better.
Here’s the thing, I really do LOVE the concept behind The Sin Collector. I know I’m repeating myself but I cannot say enough how the idea is refreshing and unique. The writing, outside of the above mentioned issues, is GOOD. The author has a relatable voice and is great at creating pacing and connection with an audience. I have passion for this book.
The Sin Collector is one of those stories where gut instinct tells you it’ll be great, it’ll be big, but it just needs more time before its ready.
I would still recommend The Sin Collector to fantasy and supernatural fans. It’s a short read and very much an enjoyable one.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/07/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Bridget Strahin4/5 stars
Wow where do I start? When Jason, new to the city to take care of his recently deceased grandfather's estate, gets mugged he thinks it's by your everyday-run-of-the-mill baddies, but when the beautiful Alex intervenes to save him with her quick moves and out of place ninja skills. From her first words about demons, Jason thinks Alex is the mayor of Crazy Town. But later that night, Jason is visited by another-very- dark character and his outlook on life and reality quickly get re-evaluated as Jason must quickly learn how to navigate in his new role through a world that was kept hidden from him.
Whitlock brings to the table an intricate and perplexed novel by weaving together old school mythology with some fresh ideas. The story is fast paced and at some points a little confusing. Some of the characters go by several names, which, were hard to keep up with. Some of the dialogue seemed out of place. Especially the amount of curse words used by the Guardian of Light. The ending was great; my favorite part of the whole book and I can't wait to see what else is in store for Jason and Co.
This novel was more or less like popcorn: flaws that are easily over looked and enjoyable enough to keep you wanting more.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/07/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz5/5 stars
Perchance to Dream is the second installment in the Theatre Illuminata Trilogy. Bertie has left the enchantment of the Theatre in order to rescue Nate. But she hasn’t gone alone, the irresistible Ariel and as always her four faithful fairy companions: Moth, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, and Mustardseed, have tagged along on the adventure. And true to form, they manage to get themselves in all sorts of wild and entertaining predicaments.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the four fairies. They are just too funny and oh so much fun to read! From their crazy antics and pranks to their outlandish sayings, you will find yourself laughing out loud throughout most of the book. One of my favorite parts is when Peaseblossom thinks she’s finally fallen in love, you won’t believe who she chooses! Cobweb, Mustardseed, and Moth are as always: crude, jokesters, and hungry! They manage to get themselves (along with Bertie and Ariel) into a heap of trouble when they come upon a wedding FULL of food. Oh boy!
A new character makes his way into Bertie’s adventure: Waschbar, the sneak-thief. Waschbar turns out to be just as clever as the fairies but with a good heart and better logic. He joins Bertie and her crew when Bertie uses The Book (the one that holds the origins of every Player) to help get her and the others out some dangerous trouble.
Bertie manages to get herself and her band of interesting sidekicks into a lot of trouble on her own though. Still not use to being the Mistress of Revels, The Teller of Tales, every time she writes something new in The Book, something always seems to go wrong and turns everything topsy-turvy.
Ariel is still determined to keep Bertie safe (and all the while greasing on his charm and sexiness)– which Bertie finds herself drawn to more and more.
Even from the Sea Goddess lair, Nate is still very much alive in Bertie– well, in her dreams that is. Bertie’s guilt continues to magnify the more she dreams of Nate because he is fading, and quickly, there is only so much time left for her to save him.
Perchance to Dream was DELICIOUS, VIVID, AND HILARIOUS! Bertie is strong willed and stubborn and loyal– a beautiful heroine girls of any age will love to read and find a connection with.
If you haven’t read Eyes Like Stars and Perchance to Dream than you are missing out on two of the best young adult novels out there! Full of beautiful fantasy, rowdy characters, a sassy lead heroine, and crazy antics– you will find yourself devouring every word of the Theatre Illuminata Trilogy.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/05/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz5/5 stars
I originally was simply interested in reading Eyes Like Stars. I had a feeling the book was going to be geared more toward children’s writing than young adult. But come to find out, Eyes Like Stars is geared for any age! I FELL IN LOVE with this book! Author Lisa Mantchev is a wonderful writer!
The setting is ridden with havoc and beauty and magic. The descriptions never feel dragged out or overdone. You can picture every character and every scene without a problem. I never felt like the setting was lacking or missing. Eyes Like Stars was very well written. Lisa Mantchev is in complete control of her story and characters. She brings them to life in a laid back and casual manner. There isn’t a moment you feel as if she’s trying to force a character onto you or an idea. The entire book flows perfectly. You will be delighted with silly jokes and learn of Shakespearean references and travel through a tasty love triangle!
I usually get annoyed with love triangles. So many have been done throughout books, makes you wish for a newer version of a love triangle and Lisa Mantchev delivers just that in Eyes Like Stars. Bertie has two love interest: Nate, a pirate from The Little Mermaid who only ever has one line, and Ariel, the air spirit from The Tempest. Nate is the brawn: strong, trustworthy, dependable. Ariel is the brains: cunning, charming, and clever. Like Berite, I would find it extremely difficult to choose between either one! Nate cracks me up and Ariel makes me want to kiss him and punch him in the face. They are both so scrumptious and irresistible!
For those of you who have never read Shakespeare or have long forgotten, no need to worry. Lisa Mantchev throws you right into the Shakespearean world and guides you through it via the characters.
Eyes Like Stars is a beautiful example great young adult fiction! You will find yourself laughing as Bertie’s tiny fairies friends play out their pranks, yelling at Nate and Ariel as they each try to win Bertie, and feel as if you have grown smarter from all the Shakespeare lessons (lol). Eyes Like Stars is an easy read and will have you running to the store to buy the sequel (Perchance to Dream–which wonderfully enough is out in stores now!)
Go buy Eyes Like Stars! Trust me when I say you will FALL IN LOVE with Bertie and her world!
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/04/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Bridget Strahin5/5 stars
Oh the troubles of being a pirate. The story starts off with Ananna escaping her arranged marriage and running off to lead her own future; one that she planned for herself. Naji, an assassin, was sent to kill Ananna but when they face off in the desert, Ananna ends up saving Naji from a deadly snake thus, activating a curse that binds them together. Every little bump or scratch that Ananna suffers Naji feels it tenfold, her safety is now his main priority--his life depends on it. Together, they search to the ends of the earth to find a cure to the curse, only to find out that in order to beat an impossible curse, Naji must complete three impossible tasks.
I thought the book was exciting. Clarke put together an imaginative world full of darkness and adventure. Ananna is the rough and tumble type that can hold her own in a fight and still look great in a dress. She was full of spirit and wit and I could read her all day long. The intensity of the situations that Ananna and Naji kept finding themselves in were thrilling and kept me on edge all the way to the end. I would recommend this novel to everyone, I mean come on, kick butt adventure around every corner and a shadow lurking assassin hottie, who wouldn't want to read this?!
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/07/assa...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
I have always been in love with a good mythological story. There are just so many that are dark and twisted and enchanting. Rise of the Red Dragon, the first installment in the Tales of the Lorekeepers, explores storytelling of myths and legends in a fun and exciting way.
Samuel has just turned fourteen years old and as a gift his parents take him to his favorite store to go on a shopping spree worth two hundred dollars. Samuel happens upon a set of white dice he likes the look of and decides to buy them. He soon discovers the dice are not simply for decoration, they hold powerful and ancient magic, throwing Samuel back into a world of myth. Samuel has to navigate the world he travels to with the help of a fata, or fairy, named Angeline who quickly informs to Samuel that he is a Lorekeeper and his job is protect the mythological stories he loves so much. But it won’t be an easy task. Samuel has to not only survive an impending war, keep his identity hidden and somehow find a way back home; he also has to find a way to take down an evil sorcerer determined to destroy the mythological story and the power behind it. Let the sword fighting begin!
Samuel was a sweet and charming hero. He starts off as a fumbling fourteen year old boy who manages to survive more on luck than actual talent and grows into a strong, courageous young man. He fights hard to protect the new friends he has come to love, especially when he finds out the truth as to why protecting the mythological story he was sent to is so important! He has a kind heart and is a such a nerd, it’s cute.
Angeline, the fata or fairy, was pretty funny and absentminded at times. Uther, Ambrosius, and Kaleb were great characters. Each noble, brave, and strong. Malloy was my favorite character out of the book. He is wise, rough around the edges, and loyal. He carries himself with strength and stands for what is right even if it means he has to sacrifice his life. I enjoyed his bond with Samuel. They grew from mistrusting soldiers to brothers.
There are only a few things that bothered me about the book. There were , at times, where the dialogue switched between being formal and elegant to casual and ‘present time’. It made the pacing come off choppy at times. The narration was also rough at times because it came off too ‘grown up’ throughout the progression of the story which also happened with the dialogue. There were many instances where Samuel sounded much older than fourteen which took away from the young adult feel to his character.
Rise of the Red Dragon starts off at a steady pace gradually building into intense action with swords, lethal dragons, and evil sorcerers.
If you’re a person who enjoys a good take on an aged old myth, then you will have fun reading, Rise of the Red Dragon!
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/05/rati...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Bridget Strahin5/5 stars
I must say, when I first read the synopsis of this story, I was excited even though it's well, a short story. In my opinion, short stories are hard to get into because the writer has very little pages to get you hooked in and for me, it never works out. However, Mr. Shosty had no problems with that.
From page one all the way through the entire story, I was hooked. Mr. Shosty had a way with his words that had me flowing from page to page and before I knew it, I was at the end and disappointed.
Disappointed because I wanted more.
The story follows Dr. Trotter as he reminisces and tells his young protégé Thomas about past days of friendships and war. It is a moving tale of an old man with more days behind him then in front, who has many secrets to share with a young man who wants to one day follow in his footsteps.
The only thing I have an issue with is the cover. It's a picture of a pentagram on a floating island and I'm not sure how it fits. I would recommend changing the cover so that the story isn't misleading. It really has nothing to do with the story.
The story was well written and imaginative. I would recommend this quick read to anyone, no matter what genre they are used to reading.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/05/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
Recently, I have been stuck in a slew of books that have not lived up to the potential promised by the intriguing and crafted blurbs attached to them. Thankfully, there have been a few times I have been freed from the utter boredom so many of these books have caused but not by many. Enter No Good Deed, which truth be told I jumped into reading with reluctance and not expecting much. I mean a mother fighting demons, not exactly a concept we’re (as in us readers) are used to seeing playing the starring role in a supernatural fantasy. I quickly discovered my all too judgmental attitude was way more wrong than it bargained for! No Good Deed completely surprised me in the best way.
Kelly is a wife and a mother, and until recently, she was a gainfully employed wife and mother. Enter an alleyway with a buffed up man holding onto a fragile old man while holding a gun to his head and Kelly’s oh-so-normal-world flips over into the utterly bizarre. Turns out the guy with the gun was a trained assassin and the old man, well, let’s just say he isn’t as fragile as he looks. Kelly barely manages to escape the entire confrontation with her life and limbs still intact but that one little encounter brings in Denis Larocque, a well put together Frenchman who leads a team of demon hunters. Throw in a pouch of ten thousand dollars and a job offer and it seems Kelly’s oh-so-normal world just went straight to hell—literally.
Kelly has become one of my new favorite heroines! She isn’t the anorexic-perfect features-can-kick-butt-without-any-real-training type of heroine. No, Kelly is a size fourteen with sarcastic mouth and tougher than steel attitude. She’s got the fierceness of a mother and the strength of a woman who has endured a lot but hasn’t been beaten down by it. Kelly isn’t one to complain, she sees a problem and she finds a way to solve it, come hell or high water. That’s one of the things I really liked about her. She makes her decisions based on heart and gut instinct. She will do anything to protect her family and provide for them (anything that isn’t illegal that is). Kelly isn’t living a life to impress anyone, she just wants to make sure her family is provided for and safe. She doesn’t worry so much about the approval of others as she does about doing what is right.
Denis Larocque is sophisticated, honest, and oozes both money and power. He is kind when he needs to be and protective of his team. He’s still a bit mysterious though since not much of his backstory was shown in the book so I’m looking forward to learning more about his character as the series progresses. Suni is a member of Larocque’s team and has both the skills and attitude to prove if you mess with her you won’t live long enough to regret it. For the most part I did like Suni’s character and I could understand the chip on her shoulder she carried, but at times I really wanted her to drop the ‘tude and move pass the anger.
Sofia is another member of the team and one who still as much of a mystery as Denis, if not more. She’s Denis’s second in command and could kill you with a look. Rachel is quiet, intelligent, and more than a bit odd. She helps on the magical side of things and always seemed to be out of it (in a funny-sort-of-creepy-kind-of-way). Marianne is the bubbly member who oozes positivity and charm. I liked her. She was cute and sweet. Paul is the other member who handles the magical side of things, a nerd through and through with a charm all his own and very wise. Gerard is huge, Hulk-like strong, and kind. He doesn’t say much but he’s way smarter than people give him credit for. Then last but not least, there’s Mario. He’s young, well-trained, and playful. He’s the technology wiz and the combat expert. Did I mention he’s also too good looking for his own good? *wink*
There are also a slew of secondary characters. Kelly’s kids, husband, little sister, brothers and mother also make appearances. I liked the fact that Kelly’s family came in and out of the story often, showing how hard it is for Kelly to balance a normal family life with a totally insane job. Her bond with her family is unyielding and the heart of what drives the story. The action scenes were some of the best parts of the book, especially toward the end when Umber comes in. Umber is an Incubus with some very tempting and very dangerous powers. One touch from him and you’ll be transported into your most desired fantasies, but there’s a catch, your soul goes up for sell the moment you let him touch you. Umber didn’t come in toward close to the end so he didn’t get a lot of scenes but definitely a character you will not forget.
There are only a few problems I had with the book. Most are slight little problems except for one. The biggest problem of the book was the overwhelming details of Kelly’s everyday life. There were many scenes that could have been left out and the book still would have worked because the scenes dragged out the pacing of the story. I understood the need to see Kelly’s world with her family and didn’t mind it the beginning and for the first half of the novel, but then I needed it to stop being thrown in as much as it was. There’s also a lot of telling instead of showing within Kelly’s narration throughout the book which also dragged out the pacing. Kelly explained too much every little detail of what she was doing or thinking and I tired of it. There’s also a good amount of repetition. Not so much that you get beyond annoyed with it but enough that it starts to be noticeable (or maybe that’s just me??) and frustrating.
Overall, No Good Deed was a nice little surprise of a read. I jumped right in and enjoyed the ride. Kelly proves that being ordinary is the best kind of hero and I am certainly looking forward to seeing more of Umber!
Bravo to author Bill Blais!
He has earned himself a new stalker . . . I mean fan *wink*
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/04/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz5/5 stars
I first met Lord Arkus in My Sparkling Misfortune, the first novella in the Lakeland Knight Series. I had a lot of fun getting to know the humorous villain turned hero against his will and was glad to have the chance to jump into another adventure with him. My Royal Pain Quest turned out to be just as enjoyable and wonderfully funny.
My Royal Pain Quest starts off right where My Sparkling Misfortune left off. Lord Arkus is determined to find a way to save Jarvi, to wake him from the never ending sleep he been cursed under. He sets off on a quest to commit three good deeds: the Deed of Pure Hand, the Deed of a Cool Mind, and the Deed of Noble Heart. Lord Arkus isn’t too happy considering he also trying to return to being known as a treacherous villain. Along the way, Lord Arkus meets some interesting characters, learns how to become invisible and fly, and discovers something he never thought he would really experience: romance.
Lord Arkus is still the sarcastic-wannabe-villain-turned-hero-against-his-will and I had so much fun being able to see how he evolved to let people in and trust. He still does so begrudging and reluctantly since he still isn’t comfortable being seen as a villain. He also still has this charm about him that makes a reader want to know what he will do next.
Cassandra has a tough-take-no-nonsense attitude from the moment she comes into the story and wicked knife skills to back it up. I instantly loved her character from the beginning! She wasn’t dictated by her fear and jumped into a fight when the need called for it, which happened most of the time throughout the novel. She was also vulnerable at times and caring. I also liked that she was never afraid to challenge Lord Arkus or speak her mind around him.
I also really enjoyed the Swirgs. They were so cute and adorable. I really liked the concept of the magical berries that help you to fly or become invisible.
The action was present throughout pretty much most of the book and so was the humor. The pacing and dialogue were also well done, except for a few places where the dialogue dragged down the fluidity of the scenes.
The only real problem with My Royal Pain Quest, as in other short novellas written by Laura Lond, is the amount of action packed into the story. Everything is dealt with so fast and squeezed in together that the story isn’t as fully developed nor the backstories, as much as I would have preferred.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the way the novella ended!! I laughed so hard and was so excited! I cannot wait for the third installment in the Lakeland Knight Series.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/07/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
Upon reading the synopsis for My Demonic Ghost, I was instantly intrigued and was excited when I was able to get an advanced copy of the book by the author. As a fan of the supernatural and paranormal genres, I love when a book brings a refreshing and original take into an idea that’s been used before which Jacinta Maree was able to do.
Let’s start off with what worked for My Demonic Ghost. The idea of a demon possessing a human is not a new concept but what if the demon didn’t possess you? What if the demon was more like a ghost who opted instead to chain you to them and use your soul to keep them on the human plane? That is the concept to the book and I really liked it. I also liked the fact that the demonic ghosts aren’t as black and white as one would think. They aren’t just purely evil. There’s vulnerability to their characters, especially to Lock’s, even though they have such great power.
The writing style was beautifully done. The world is vivid and described well. The reader has no problem making out what Maree has created both in the human world and the spirit realm. The spirit realm was one of my favorite aspects of the book. The suspense is pretty well done and the action scenes are fraught with tension.
Betrayal was the best character out of the book. She is beautiful, agile, strong, and jumps into battle with a ferocity I would be afraid to go up against. I loved her scenes in the book. I also liked the Hunters, they hunt down the Banished (the spirits who attach themselves to humans). They are undeniably strong, fast, and worthy of their title.
Lock was another character I liked. He is as young as Rachel and starts off the story filled with snappy retorts, tough attitude, and selfishness. But as the story progresses his character does as well. He is this kid who has been battling stuff few adults would ever be brave enough to and he was used to doing things alone until Rachel. He had this vulnerability to his character and a strong will to keep fighting.
But I did have some issues with the book. Rachel, the main heroine of the adventure into the spirit realm, is too gullible, easily persuaded, and a bit shallow considering any time she saw how gorgeous a demon was she instantly felt at ease with them and wanted to befriend them which didn’t make sense. The narration, which was done by Rachel, was at times over dramatic.
The romance between Rachel and Lock was sub-par. They start off not really being able to stand each other but that ends quickly with Rachel deciding he’s just a misunderstood spirit. I just felt Rachel trusted him too quickly. I did like the ending since it wasn't a cookie-cutter happy ending. It was bittersweet and fit the book. Lock's sacrifice and growth toward the end was a nice touch. It was good to see him attain some maturity and wisdom.
My Demonic Ghost is a nice take on an old concept and the writing, for the most part, is beautifully done. I just wanted a stronger heroine and less dramatics.
I would still recommend any supernatural and paranormal fan to give My Demonic Ghost a chance. There are aspects of the book that are enjoyable. I also would like to see what happens with Lock and Betrayal in the next installment so I will most likely continue the series.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/07/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
Demonglass takes off a few weeks after Hex Hall ends. I had fallen giddy in love with Sophie and her crazy world of witches, sharpshifers, and fairies. The next installment delivered even more in sarcasm, suspense, and shocking twists!
Sophie heads to London to spend time with her father and agrees under the condition that Jenna, her best friend who happens to be a vampire, gets to tag along with her. Sophie’s dad agrees and throws in a surprise, Cal will be tagging along as well. You find out the reason page 18 and will fall out of your seat when you do with laughter and as much shock as Sophie has!
Cal plays a much bigger role in the second novel. More of his personality shines through and more about his past. Sophie grows closer to him. Cal is absolutely adorable and sweet. He has this quite sexy charm about him and really awesome powers as a healer.
Sophie is still as snaky, feisty, and willful as ever. She still speaks her mind (even though she gets herself in a lot of trouble for it!), is loyal to those she loves, and even when the odds are against her, Sophie still stands up and fights back. Jenna is still oozing with sarcasm and everything pink. But we get to see a more girly side to her. She is head over heels for another vampire and it was so cute. Sophie’s dad plays a much bigger role as well. He is wise, loving, and a very powerful demon. Archer does return and is still as infuriatingly sexy as when he was introduced in Hex Hall.
The choices Sophie and Archer make did frustrate me and anger me. Sophie knew by going after Archer she was putting, not only her life on the line but her father’s and the remaining members of the Council. She lies and keeps secrets which end up costing her dearly.
Despite the predictability and cliché aspects within Demonglass (girl falls for bad boy, love triangle forming, teen angst), there were some really good twists. I found myself unwilling to put the novel done, needing to find out the family secrets Sophie seeks and to understand the truth about Daisy and Nick, the two other demons Sophie meets. I wanted to know who was the real threat to the Council and all of Prodigium: is it really Archer and The Eye? Or is the threat coming from within? The pacing was spot on with the plot of the book.
Demonglass is full of romance, betrayal, shock, and heartache. But don’t worry, all you action fanatics, there is plenty in this novel! The ending is left at a cliffhanger but I had already suspected that would happen since the first one had been as well. But what a wham bam ending! Sophie’s world completely falls apart and she has even more secrets to uncover. I am definitely looking forward to reading the third installment, Spell Bound.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2011/08/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabel Cadiz5/5 stars
I had instantly been intrigued to this book through the cover. One girl standing in a forest dressed in a school uniform. Another girl upside standing in a lake with a black cat. As soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked and I was not disappointed! Hex Hall was filled with witty banter, well defined characters, and tantalizing mystery.
The novel is told from Sophie’s point of view. She is a witch who was raised only by her mother. Her father she has never met so it’s been up to Sophie’s mother to teach her how to handle being a witch which has made Sophie pretty inept at creating spells. Most of the time, her spells don’t exactly go the way they are supposed to. One of Sophie’s love spells goes wrong at prom and Sophie’s mother sends her to a reform school called Hecate (Hex) Hall. It is a boarding school for magical children who haven’t exactly hidden their powers well in the human world.
I was very happy the book was told from Sophie’s point of view. She is too funny! She will cause you to have a lot of laugh out loud and shake your head in amusement. You wind feeling like Sophie is your friend and caring about what happens to her. She is sweet and caring but is she also stubborn and strong. She doesn’t care about being Miss Popular. She just cares about being true to herself. She can be gullible at times but she has never had any real friends and has always felt like an outcast. She also doesn’t understand the magical world and has to learn as she makes mistakes but that’s what makes her endearing.
Of course, no YA novel would be complete without a set of villains and a really hot guy.
Elodie, Anna, and Chaston are the top witches at the reform school. They are super powerful and have nasty attitudes to go along with it, especially, Elodie. Archer Cross is the hot boy on campus. He is, technically, off limits considering he is dating Elodie but that doesn’t stop Sophie from daydreaming about him. He is your all around bad boy: sexy features, toned up body, powerful magic, and huge vault of sarcasm at his disposal. I was surprised at Archer’s character because he comes off as being this egocentric jerk but turns out to have a heart.
The pacing of the novel is wonderful. You never feel weighed down. Sophie’s voice flows seamlessly with the plot as it moves forward. The chapters are just the right amount of length. The plot is filled with magic and a dark, sinister mystery as Sophie’s fellow pupils are falling victim to an unseen force attacking the school. All fingers point to Jenna, Sophie’s best friend who also happens to be a vampire. Jenna was, by far, one of the best characters in the book. She is open and loving but don’t mess with her, she will take you down! She cracked me up many times throughout the book and she is completely obsessed with pink which is my favorite color, so it was hard not to love Jenna *hehe*
The novel is a bit predictable but that didn’t stop me from enjoying Sophie and her story. The magic was so much fun and the characters were engaging. The twist at the end was a very nice touch by the author! There did, at times, seem as if the characters weren’t taking what was happening as seriously as they should but I’m hoping in the next novel the author has the characters mature more. I also hope the drama intensifies since in Hex Hall, the drama was there but not as much as I feel it should have been considering the characters were facing such difficult and tragic situations.
Hex Hall is an easy and fun filled read. It may at times lean more towards humor instead of drama, and at times seem somewhat predictable, but the characters are lovable and the plot is very interesting. I look forward to reading the next novel, Demonglass, and continuing Sophie’s adventure.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2011/07/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz5/5 Stars
I first became a BIG fan of Author Raine Thomas with her Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy, where I was introduced to the wondrous world of the Estilorians. My favorite book being Foretold, go Team Caleb and Team Skye! Upon getting news that Thomas was creating a follow up trilogy which would include the same characters I had come to love, I squealed with excitement and demanded the book as soon as I could! Defy is the first book in Thomas’s new Firstborn Trilogy and let me tell you, the book ROCKED MY SOCKS!
Tate is so much like both her parents, Caleb and Skye, which made me love her instantly. She is impulsive, far too trusting, and defiant much like Skye. She is also fiercely strong, good under pressure, and determined much like Caleb. Tate goes through a pretty tough journey through the book while attempting to find her way back home and I was impressed with how controlled she managed to remain of her emotions and temperament.
I was happy to see my favorites returning from the original trilogy: Amber and Gabriel, James and Olivia, and of course, Caleb and Skye. The Elders In-herit, Jabari, Uriel, Sebastion, and Knorbis are also back. My favorite is Ini-herit, I enjoyed his relationship with Clara Kate, who is the first born to Amber and Gabriel. It was fun to see how much In-herit was confused through Clara’s emotions and actions and how much he listened to Clara Kate and I liked how strong willed Clara is. I also enjoyed the slew of various new characters. I really liked Tiege, Tate’s twin brother. He’s so cute and loving and much calmer than his twin sister. I also was happy to read more of Quincy and loved his relationship with Sophia, first born to Olivia and James.
Zachariah was my favorite character of the entire book. He is extremely guarded, hot tempered, prideful and downright rude. He is also deadly agile, incredibly strong, and undeniably hawt! I couldn’t get to the scenes with him fast enough when I was reading. He had me cracking up and in the next sentence wanting to slap him. I so LOVED that he had a tomahawk as a weapon! I also really liked his connection with Nyx, a kragon (dragon-like creature on the Estilorian plane). I liked that they could communicate without words, just with emotions and expressions. They had such an intimate bond which was sweet and trusted each other without question. Nyx helped to show Zachariah’s more vulnerable side. Zachariah is such the anti-hero but it worked great against Tate’s optimistic and impulsivity.
I’m still Team Caleb *swoon* but Zachariah comes in at a close second ;)
The action was well done and one of my favorite scenes was when Tiege swopped in to fight against the Mercesti and took down Zachariah showing just how much like Caleb’s son he really is. The pacing doesn’t drag too much and the suspense, although at times too predictable, was built gradually as the scenes intensified. The characterization was developed with depth where readers can connect with them and relate to what they go through.
There were a few things that could use tweaking in upcoming books. Some of the dialogue sometimes sounded unlike the character who was speaking which made some of the dialogue come off choppy. There were times the pacing was a bit dragged because the story felt like it was being told too much over being shown to the reader. There was also a feeling of repetition when the same scenes where told from different characters and sometimes the details were a bit much. But for the most part, the book was well executed.
With loveable characters returning and new fun characters introduced, with action packed scenes and new budding romances, Defy is a great beginning to what seems to be a promising new trilogy!
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/05/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
I had been putting off reading this book ever since I first saw it sitting on the shelf in Barnes and Noble. The cover was attractive and the synopsis intriguing but I was worried I was going to be stuck reading another crappy love triangle with a girl too stupid to realize the bad boy is really just a jerk. I was completely surprised how much I loved this book! Everneath was a lovely, heart wrenching paranormal love story.
Nikki Beckett has just woken up from a hundred years of sleep where she was attached to an immortal, Cole in what is known as the Everneath. The Everneath is a dimension between Earth and Hell where immortals , or Everlivings, feed on Forfeits, humans who willing agree to be sucked free of their emotions to add more years of life to the Everlivings. Nikki forgets her life before she entered the Everneath. She can’t remember how to feel, turning into nothing more than a husk once she is freed from Cole. The only thing Nikki can remember is the face of a brown-haired-boy. Although a century has passed in the Everneath, only six months have passed on Earth and Nikki only has six months to say goodbye to her family before the Everneath claims her back forever. As Nikki attempts to live a normal life and fix what she can about the broken relationships with her father, brother, and Jack, the brown-haired-boy who had been her boyfriend before she disappeared, Cole returns to the Earth to find her. He is determined to have Nikki as his queen whether she likes it or not.
Everneath is a paranormal romance mixed based off the story of Hades and Persephone from Greek mythology with a bit of action. Most of the book follows Nikki’s journey to reestablish her relationship with Jack in the hopes of easing his pain from her disappearance and seeking redemption with her family. I was surprised by how beautiful Brodi Ashton was able to create such a heart wrenching and tragic tale I couldn’t help but root for! I wanted Nikki and Jack to find their way back to each other but at the same time I was also against it since Nikki had chosen to go with Cole. Readers, of course, discover what the reason was and at first glance it sounds like such a cliché and stupid reason. What I liked is the fact that both Nikki and Jack owned up to what happened and realize how stupid they both were.
Nikki starts off broken and hollow. She can’t remember how to laugh or cry or really care about people. She puts on a mask so she can find a way to give her father and her brother the peace they deserve before the Everneath claims her back. She goes through the motions of a normal everyday life but she’s dead on the inside. Little by little she awakens and thanks mostly to Jack, who is just as broken as her but has never stopped believing she would return to him.
Cole is ridiculously good looking, talented (he plays in a band), and powerful as one would expect an immortal villain to be. He is both an obstacle for Nikki and an enticement. She had shared a century with him and he knows her better than she does. Cole cares about power and has a secret scheme up his sleeve but Nikki can’t quite figure out what he wants.
The relationship between Nikki and Cole isn’t a love triangle between Jack, Nikki, and Cole but more of a tolerated relationship. Nikki has a bond with Cole because they shared a heart and he has this sort of vulnerability when it comes to Nikki. He trusts her. He has grown to care about her. It will be interesting to see what the author does between Cole, Nikki, and Jack because I’m sure Cole isn’t giving up!
Even though I saw the ending coming, I was still saddened by what happened. I definitely can’t wait to read the second installment to know what happens!!
There were a few things that did bother me though. Nikki’s father and brother aren’t really seen throughout the book that much. One would figure since she has returned after being gone for six months, there would be more scenes showcasing how fragile Nikki’s relationship with both of them is and how they are rebuilding. It also didn’t make any sense that Nikki’s father accepted her return home but didn’t investigate to make sure her story about being rehab was true or that the cops didn’t show up to question her. Nikki’s dad just makes her do drug testing, randomly, to check that she isn’t doing drugs (as everyone believed she was and still is). It was also annoying how often Nikki lamented over her choice to go with Cole instead of having fixed things with Jack. I also wanted to know more about Cole’s past and how he become an Immortal and more about the Royal family. I also wanted an explanation as to why the Forfeits get to return only for a six month period of time. Why not longer? Why do they have to return back to the Everneath and not be allowed to stay on Earth? I wanted more in depth explanations but I’m guessing that will come in the other two books.
I did feel a similarity from the Everneath Trilogy to the Juliet Immortal Trilogy by Stacy Jay but that didn’t stop me from loving the book. Both first books in both trilogies have laid a foundation for two really well written trilogies I look forward to continuing.
Everneath is fast paced and an easy read. The story is mainly character driven which was great and the dynamic between the various relationships are well written.
I do hope there is more action in the next two books of the trilogy and more depth to each of the characters.
Any fan of paranormal romance, who strictly loves romance, will thoroughly enjoy this book.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/07/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Bridget Strahin4/5 stars
Decoy follows Lieutenant Noel Casey as she starts her new assignment only, this isn't her typical run of the mill laboratory experiments, this is a hunky, broody, consume all thoughts type of experiment. Killian is just your average lab born, genetically engineered hottie who likes it when people are afraid of him and is pretty well adapted to living in a sterile environment. Noel is strangely captivated by this man and wants to spend more time than necessary trying to figure him out. Enter Taylor Russo, the hunky mathematician who was ordered to show Noel around the military base she now calls home. Taylor is sweet and kind and everything a normal woman would go for and before she knows it, Noel is starting to fall for him, too. As if things couldn't get any more complicated for Lieutenant Casey, she discovers a secret about herself and the new people in her life that shakes her whole world and leaves her questioning what parts of her life are real and what parts are fake. Filled with an out of this world romance and danger that never seems to just go away, this book is a fast paced thrill ride that will leave you asking for more.
Three pages in and I was hooked! A book rarely does that to me, but this one just blew all expectations out of the water. Honestly, with my history of self published books I was a little worried that I was going to get another dud, but something in me was just itching to get a hold of this. I got done with the first chapter and thought, "FINALLY! some excitement in my life!" I thought this book was very well written with a kick butt heroine and enough twists and turns to leave the most popular soap operas jealous.
Of course, I had some issues with this story, no great story is without flaws every once in awhile. The first half of the book is great. I was hooked to everything: the scenery, the characters, the drama that was unfolding, and then it was like the author . . . lost focus. The big secret was reveled and my jaw dropped and then the story kinda dropped. I was suddenly annoyed with Noel and her decisions, even her speech was annoying. She uses a lot of big words and she stopped being believable. Then there was Killian and I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say, enjoy the silent, observant facade he puts on in the beginning, because that quickly goes away when his secret is reveled then he becomes a little frustrating. Taylor on the other hand held my heart all the way through the book and needless to say, I'm Team Taylor all the way! And though I didn't really like the way the book ended, at the very end, I understand why it was needed for Noel and I'm seriously hoping for another book.
Overall I enjoyed the book. The idea behind it was original and very unexpected (in a good way) and I really liked that way Debelius uses her words to drag you into the story and holds you captive all the way to the end. I would recommend reading it on a rainy day or a long trip because, trust me, you're not going to want to put it down.
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz4/5 stars
Foretold is the final book in the Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy and out of all three books, probably the best one. I liked both Amber and Olivia, but Skye turned out to my favorite out of all three of the sisters. She started off as a very weak character in the first book and I think she made the biggest strides out of all three of the girls. Foretold not only shines a more intimate light on Skye as well as her Gloresti, Caleb, but also, on the big battle the books have been leading up with Grolkinei.
Foretold starts off with a heavy and heartbreaking event involving a mental attack on Skye by the Mercesti leader, Grolkinei, the Elders step up protections to prevent any mental attacks from happening again on any of the girls. The protections are successful so the Elders choose to have Amber, Olivia, Skye, Gabriel, James, Caleb travel to the homelands of the different Estilorian’s so they can be protected from the mental attacks by the Mercesti. As they travel through the homelands, Amber, Olivia, and Skye learn more about the Great Foretelling and the battle to come. While everything seems to be going well and the different homelands are becoming more accepting of the sisters, they soon find out not everyone they have chosen to trust is truly their friend and Amber, Skye, and Olivia are in greater danger than they could have imagined.
I had so much fun with Skye and Caleb! They’re relationship was the best developed and far more realistic than the others. I loved how complete opposites they were. Caleb is strong, solid, takes no-nonsense and shows little emotion whereas Skye is optimistic, bubbly, naive and innocent. She loves to sing off key and dance around in her crazy fashions. Caleb struggles to understand the way human emotions work and how to protect Skye when he doesn’t understand any of the feelings he is having towards her. I love how Caleb didn’t worry about hurting Skye’s feelings. He was always bluntly honest with her and treated her as strong as he knew she was even when she didn’t believe it.
I also really appreciated and loved the Christian themes throughout the book. I don’t know if that is what the author intentionally meant to do though. There are just many great messages throughout each of the books, especially in Foretold. To have faith in yourself, to trust that hope is never far away, and love is the most powerful weapon we have, such great lessons to remember and live by.
I really liked and enjoyed most of the book. One of the things that bothered me though was how close the plot was to Central. All the girls are married. All of them are pregnant. All of them have waaay too much sex. The plot just sounded redundant. There were things that were different like some of the fight scenes but even then it was somewhat redundant because every one of the girls has to face a villain face to face but helped be rescued by the magic of their sisters, the Elders, and the Gloresti guardians. The pacing was still dragged down by far too much detail of things that just didn’t matter to the plot. One of the things that has always seemed absolutely ridiculous to me was the singing the girls would to protect their thoughts. They would sing songs from various pop music artists and those scenes always felt very out of place with the rest of the book. Another big problem in all three books was the way the dialogue and narration was written. Often the voices of the characters all sounded the same and it was hard to remember who was speaking or who the narration was talking about. The tone also often sounded too informative so it would interfere with being able to fully be swept away in the book.
But regardless of flaws in each of the books, I think author Raine Thomas has a brilliant imagination and wonderfully fun ideas. There is a whimsical feel to the romances she creates and a certain realism to them (especially with Skye and Caleb). There was heart behind the characters and the storyline which so many books seem to lack nowadays. Overall, it was a lot of fun reading the Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy!
The Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy are books filled with plenty of magic, loveable and relatable characters, and worlds vividly described. I would recommend the books to anyone who is a fan of science fiction and fantasy; you will have quite an adventure!
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz3/5 stars
In the second book to Thomas’s Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy, Central the story is more focused on the second sister, Olivia. It was a nice change to be able to still maintain the connection with the same characters from the first book as well as the same world, but be able to explore a different sister more intimately. The author did a good job of keeping the Estilorian world as vivid and descriptive as the first one as well as the romance between various characters.
Central starts off where the first book left off. Amber and Gabriel have returned from their honeymoon and the girls are thrown into learning more about the Estilorian plane and their powers. Much of the book deals with Olivia and James, her guardian or Gloresti.
Olivia is the more logical and inquisitive ones of the three sisters. She is quiet in manner and not as physically powerful as Amber but when push comes to shove she will stand her ground. I liked Olivia. I thought she was very sweet and very wise. She likes to think things through and take her time to make decisions. There is a quiet strength about Olivia and I felt connected to her because of that. James is kind, as avid a learner as Olivia, and unyielding loyal.
I liked the way James and Olivia’s relationship developed. They took their time, getting to know each other and developing trust. James was always seeking ways to understand Olivia on a more personal and intimate level while Olivia patiently explained the human plane to him and found security in James willingness to learn and appreciate her. I also loved that James didn’t feel he can be with Olivia because he is not worthy of her. It was such a sweet gesture.
But there were a few things I had a problem with. The biggest problem is that the plot from Central seems to closely follow the plot from the first one in many ways. There always seems to be a way for the sisters to magically save the day. They always just happen to have the answer or the cure come right at the exact moment when they needed it even though they neither had the answer or the power in the first place. There were just moments I couldn’t help but sigh because everything was too convenient. Also, at times the book, like the first one, felt too weighed down by details that were of no real consequence to understanding the characters or story.
I did enjoy reading Central for the most part. I liked the scene where the sisters are trained to learn how to fly. What Ini-herit did to get Amber to fly was just so crazy and at the same time funny. The big news with Amber and Gabriel was beautiful and I liked the scene where Dacian gets caught by Gabriel making fun of Amber. That scene made me laugh along with James and Caleb. The characters were also better developed.
Overall, Central turned out to be better than the first book and a fairly good read.
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/03/book...
Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz3/5 stars
I have read many books by Indie authors and many of them either follow the same exact plotline of so many books I have read before or fill their books with so many clichés you can’t stop rolling your eyes the whole way through the read. Becoming falls somewhere between the two but also manages to distinct itself enough to make it different.
There are some strong elements to the book. One of my favorites was the relationship between Amber and Gabriel. I liked that their relationship was built on a friendship that expanded for six years before they chose to finally confess their feelings to each other. They have such an intimate and loving bond. They understand each other very well and are fiercely protective of one another. Their love was very well-developed and a reader can easily connect with their romance.
Amber and Gabriel are the main focus of the story and their characters are written fairly well. I appreciate that Amber has overcome many struggles in her life and has learned to be strong. I could also appreciate her fear of being vulnerable and open. I felt a connection with her character and enjoyed her tough-yet-shy-sarcastic-attitude. On the other hand, I became rather annoyed by her whinnying throughout the first half of the book about going to the salon or shopping. As sweet and loving as Gabriel’s character was he was also a character that wasn’t fully believable. He was made out to be the swoon-worthy male lead but had no real flaws. Olivia and Sophie work well as secondary characters but Sophie comes off weak, insecure and childlike. I thought she was far younger than she really was.
The biggest issue with the book was the plot. The author chose to showcase every miniscule detail of what the characters thought, what they were wearing and how they felt. The book was dragged down by details that, as a reader, I just didn’t care about knowing. I would skim over pages until the pacing of the book would pick up again. The main problem of the plot is the fact that nothing substantial really happens until the book is a hundred or so pages from being finished. Once the action kicks in, the pacing slows again and takes a bit to pick back up again but then ends quite quickly.
Another aspect of the book that didn’t work so well was the relationship between Amber and Gabriel. Yes, the romance I did enjoy but only to a certain point then I started to become tired of how often they were throwing “goo-goo” eyes at each other and kissing. Majority of the book is made up of Amber and Gabriel declaring how much they love each other and kissing. There were moments that were thoroughly sweet and beautiful but at times their declarations of love become too much. The few parts the so called villain came into focus and the book was narrated from his point of view, acted more as a way for the author to fill a gap in the plot than acting as any actual use to progressing the story. The villain reminded me of a bad B-movie than the evil-crazy scheming-villain a reader would expect. There needed to be more depth to his character.
I enjoyed the world of the Estilorians even though I did not fully understand it. Somehow Gabriel and Amber are able to touch each other and continue their never ending make out sessions without bodies. Or perhaps, they have bodies I just couldn’t understand . . . I liked Gabriel’s connection to the Estilorians but his past should have been explained a bit better, especially when his connection expands to the so called bad guys later in the novel. It just felt far too much like a coincidence. I wanted more of a backstory behind Gabriel’s Estilorian past.
Overall, I enjoyed Becoming. There were many moments where I was able to connect to the characters and beautiful moments between Amber and Gabriel. I also did enjoy the few action scenes that were present in the plot. I hope there is more dimension to the plot, the villain and behind Amber and Gabriel in the next two books to the trilogy. I am excited to see how the author progresses in her writing style and how Amber and Gabriel’s story develops!
http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/03/book...
